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for the fur on their backs? What truly motivates the need to invent such a thing as 'clean meat'? I don't think 'animal friendly' was top of the priority list. And, as one vegan mentioned, how many animals did they use to come up with this idea? My brief research told me that this alternative is designed to make our food more traceable, so we can have total control over our food and whatever it comes into contact with. People will pay more for meat they know is traceable because they believe there is accountability for the safety of that food. There are programs out there for sustainable design encouraging manufacturers to be accountable for the things they produce from beginning to the end of its life-cycle. Where is the accountability for this new invention? Who will take that responsibility when something goes wrong?

My next turn of the coin was this. How much industry has to be created to support the manufacture of this product? What does it take to create the machinery and computers and lubricants for this product? Would it have as much or more impact as the breeding of an animal for the dinner table? Would it create more or less greenhouse gases than the gazillion or so cows we have roaming the planet?

Alternative food is just that, an alternative, it is not the only option. Eating 'clean meat', won't stop the slaughter of animals. Sadly, the majority will always be meat eating, fur wearing, cosmetic buying consumers.

As a cynic, well, I'm not proud to be part of the human race. For every person who adores animals and will raise their voice to protect them, there are at least four men in suits out there who will knock them down to protect the bottom line. I believe that any attempt to build harmony with our natural environment is filled with catch 22's because of our ignorance.

If we begin to eat cloned food, are we likely to see more children with cancer, and are we less likely to fight off the slightest of colds and flu? How much of a natural diet makes up our resistance to nature's little killers and protects our children through their mother's milk? Clean meat will be pumped full of 'the good stuff'. I can't wait to see what that does to us.

Clearly there are more issues surrounding this particular product than just an alternative to eating an animal. It was not developed in order to stop killing animals for food, but to protect humans from whatever strain of disease that comes from a real animal, which is laughable. BSE didn't miraculously appear, it came from feeding cows meat products. Cows are vegetarian, always have been and always will be, that is their natural order. BSE was a lesson in proving that humans aren't that bright - and we got caught out in spectacular style.

After all this, I can't say I have an answer for this particular question. I eat meat. Not a lot of it, but I do eat it. Right now, I have no control over where it comes from and how it was treated before I bought it. I'm glad that they are looking into an alternative, whatever the impetus was, but I'm concerned about the longterm affects. I don't think it will save any animals. I have a feeling it will only drive up the demand more as people begin to realize that synthetic food can be dangerous. I would like an alternative, but I don't believe this is it.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Marlow.
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