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turbinetree

(24,720 posts)
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 10:44 AM Apr 2018

The Losing Fight Against Fake Meat

Reprinted with permission from Creators.

When you visit a grocery, literal-mindedness is a handicap. Apple butter is actually not a dairy product. Grape-Nuts cereal omits grapes as well as nuts. Corn dogs don’t need leashes.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, however, is appalled that new forms of protein are being sold under names such as Beyond Beef and Impossible Burger. Vegetarian and vegan substitutes for meat have gained a significant share of the market, partly because of health considerations and partly because of aversion to killing harmless animals for food. But the livestock group fears that consumers are being cruelly misled.

It wants the Department of Agriculture to stop not only the use of these brand names but any term suggesting that there is such a thing as “synthetic beef” or “vegan meat.”

It complains that Beyond Meat offers what it calls “a plant-based burger that smells, tastes, looks and even feels like ground beef” — and, if you can imagine, “strategically merchandises its products adjacent to traditional meat in grocery stores.” Yet, it notes, these foods are composed entirely of “non-meat ingredients such as ‘Pea Protein Isolate,’ ‘Rice Flour’ and ‘Yeast Extract.'”

http://www.nationalmemo.com/the-losing-fight-against-fake-meat/

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Losing Fight Against Fake Meat (Original Post) turbinetree Apr 2018 OP
Too bad factory farmers ...it's here to stay. Kirk Lover Apr 2018 #1
In the next 50 years I hope all we eat is fake meat Johnny2X2X Apr 2018 #2
'Muricans are being duped into eating healthy! ProudLib72 Apr 2018 #3
Fake "meat," why am I not surprised? Archae Apr 2018 #4
I don't get it. So we vegetarians should just eat meat? Cuthbert Allgood Apr 2018 #7
It's just mildly amusing, really... Wounded Bear Apr 2018 #10
It's not amusing to people who are allergic to beef. Bonx Apr 2018 #11
Why? I've been a vegetarian for almost 30 years. Cuthbert Allgood Apr 2018 #12
If you want to be a vegetarian, it's your choice. Archae Apr 2018 #13
So by making a fake meat burger, they are pushing their agenda? Cuthbert Allgood Apr 2018 #14
No, it's cashing in. Archae Apr 2018 #19
I'm a new vegetarian (december) crazycatlady Apr 2018 #21
Pigs ain't "harmless" zipplewrath Apr 2018 #5
I'm going to go for my first Impossible Burger this weekend. awesomerwb1 Apr 2018 #6
corn dogs don't need leashes? DBoon Apr 2018 #8
The mass murderers of innocent animals days are numbered. MoonRiver Apr 2018 #9
Oh, FFS. MicaelS Apr 2018 #15
There is nothing wrong with melm00se Apr 2018 #16
As an avid syfy reader, veg is the predominate food in many novels in the procon Apr 2018 #17
Beyond Meat pales besides Gardein. Gardein is -- just vegan heaven. byronius Apr 2018 #18
in a related story, the soda maker's association complains about "diet sodas" unblock Apr 2018 #20

Johnny2X2X

(19,145 posts)
2. In the next 50 years I hope all we eat is fake meat
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 10:49 AM
Apr 2018

They are close to getting it right and they're going to be able to grow "real" meat from cows in a lab that aren't really cows (No central nervous system of organs).

Factory farming is one of the great horrors of modern times. Science can eliminate it if we have the will, but it's going to take getting the taste exactly right.

Archae

(46,356 posts)
4. Fake "meat," why am I not surprised?
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:03 AM
Apr 2018

I keep seeing in the grocery store food labeled as "gluten free" and "GMO free" that almost always is far more expensive than the food I usually buy.

"But...but...you're eating healthy!"

Bullshit.

It's nothing but a scam, by people like Jeffrey Smith, Mike "Health Ranger" Adams and "The Food Babe."

Lots of wild claims, and anecdotes.

Science? "Dem science people are all in on da conspiracy!"

Cuthbert Allgood

(4,972 posts)
7. I don't get it. So we vegetarians should just eat meat?
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:06 AM
Apr 2018

There shouldn't be any alternatives for us that aren't basically cardboard?

Wounded Bear

(58,728 posts)
10. It's just mildly amusing, really...
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:10 AM
Apr 2018

that people who purportedly don't like meat would seek out alternatives that taste like meat.

Cuthbert Allgood

(4,972 posts)
12. Why? I've been a vegetarian for almost 30 years.
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:14 AM
Apr 2018

I am one because of animal rights and environmental reasons. I loved meat. It is delicious. It was just that morally I couldn't do it anymore. And I'm not a preachy vegetarian, but I do what sits well with me.

So we have some alternatives now. A lot of vegetarians don't like it because it does taste like meat. But plenty don't. Beyond Meat burgers are one of the best things to happen in that market for a long time.

Archae

(46,356 posts)
13. If you want to be a vegetarian, it's your choice.
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:14 AM
Apr 2018

My gripe is with those pushing their agenda on everyone, and those who are simply cashing in.

Science be damned.

Cuthbert Allgood

(4,972 posts)
14. So by making a fake meat burger, they are pushing their agenda?
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:15 AM
Apr 2018

Don't eat it if you don't want to. There are a lot of vegetarians out there and it's kind of nice that burger places are trying to offer something for them. It's nice to be able to go out and eat with non-vegetarian friends and have some actual options.

Archae

(46,356 posts)
19. No, it's cashing in.
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:23 AM
Apr 2018

I tried some vegetarian beef, a sample at the grocery store.

It was good.

It's when someone makes outlandish claims or innuendos, that it bugs me.

Mike "Natural News" Adams claims eating meat causes autism.
(He says that about vaccines too.)

The woman serving the "meat" at the store said the product was better nutrition than actual meat, and did not cause cancer.

crazycatlady

(4,492 posts)
21. I'm a new vegetarian (december)
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:39 AM
Apr 2018

The most difficult thing about being vegetarian is eating out. I'm happy for places that offer a veggie burger in place of a meat one because it means I can eat more than the fries.

So far, none of the veggie burgers I've tried taste anything like a meat one, but they'll do. I'd like to try these new ones.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
5. Pigs ain't "harmless"
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:03 AM
Apr 2018

Pigs in a factory farm are treated quite badly, but let's not kid anyone about how harmless they are. Neither are steers. Chickens and turkeys on the other hand....

Is kinda strange they seemed to be focused on beef, when the chickens and pigs are some of the worst treated.

melm00se

(4,996 posts)
16. There is nothing wrong with
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:19 AM
Apr 2018

meat substitutes as long as they are labelled as such.

We require labels that identify what something is. All foods should equally adhere to those regulations.

procon

(15,805 posts)
17. As an avid syfy reader, veg is the predominate food in many novels in the
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:20 AM
Apr 2018

not so distant future. Veggie foods already take up a larger place in many menu plans today, not just for the ethical considerations, but health and cost factors make people more interested in trying out meatless meals.

The syfy authors who write about world building details often describe stuff that is generically labeled as "vat meat", sort of like designer grown meat products, as a common food. Scientists already have to expertise to clone and grow various body parts for research and medical needs. Can they produce something that can pass for the real deal, maybe big tubes of chicken breast meat or beefsteaks?

With the rising costs of raising food animals and getting the meat to market, how much longer will it be before some new start up company starts growing "beef", "chicken" or "fish" as a commercial enterprise? When the cost factor of producing a pound of "fake meat", whether its from veggie stuffs or genuine meat cells grown in a vat, becomes competitive with meat from livestock, only the extremely wealthy will be able to afford those luxury foods.

byronius

(7,401 posts)
18. Beyond Meat pales besides Gardein. Gardein is -- just vegan heaven.
Fri Apr 27, 2018, 11:21 AM
Apr 2018

I don't miss real meat, not ever, period. So glad to be free of it.

For more than just health reasons, which my physician will attest to.

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