Issues
Ethical
The most appealing feature of cultured meats for most people is the benefits it will have for animals. Because of these reasons, animal organizations tend to support artificial meats. [9] Factory farming causes million of animals to be slaughtered each year. [4] If an individual accepts that animals have rights, then killing animals for the pure purpose of human benefits is considered unethical. [1]
From the vegetarian perspective, turning to cultured meats would bring promise to ending the use of animals for agriculture and consumption; because of this more animal organization tend to support cultured meats and cellular agriculture. These scientific innovations could lead to a world that is completely vegan. Although others argue that turning to cultured meats will eliminate animals from our concerns. According to Simon Fairlie, technological developments in agriculture could result in a horrifying scenario where humans become disconnected from animals and nature. [2]
The use of fetal bovine serum is also controversial because it requires the blood extraction from a fetus, but alternatives like lipids such as sphingosine 1-phosphate and amino-acid rich mushroom extracts have been suggested as an alternative, more ethical sources for serum cultured meats.[3]
Legal
While the benefits of turning to cultured meats are tremendous, many legal issues will come along with putting these products on the market. Most notably, the United States Cattlemen’s Association worries that the term “meat” will confuse consumers since these products will directly compete with traditional farm-raised meat. Meanwhile, the American Meat Science Association — an organization focused on the science of producing and processing animal-based meat — worries that the term “meat” may inaccurately suggest that lab-grown protein is as safe and nutritious as traditional meat. [4] Traditional meat producers are pushing back the market approval of cultured meat by arguing that lab-generated products are “not meat at all” and “should not be labeled as such”.[5]
Once cultured meats make it onto the market with the correct label, there is also the question of how organizations will regulate the product. The Federal Meat Inspection Act, also known as the FMIA, ensures that the United States production of commercial meat is safe, wholesome, and correctly label; but the FMIA can only inspect meat products that are defined as, “any product capable of use as human food which is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats.” Since cultured meats do not get harvested directly from a carcass, cultured meats technically don’t meet the descriptions necessary to be classified as a product regulated by the FMIA.
Although on the other hand, cultured meat cells are originally taken from an animal even though the final product is not taken from a carcass. So under this logic cultured meats would be under the regulation of the FMIA. Situations like these will be part of the many legal battles cultured meat companies will have to fight.[6]
Social
Many different demographics have varying opinions and attitudes on cellular agriculture. Regulator and consumers will have to take all of these perspectives into consideration when placing cultured meat products on the market. As a general statistic, one third of americans would likely purchase cultured meats with two thirds opposing it. When breaking down that statistic even more, researchers found that age as a significance on opinions as well. Eighteen to twenty nine year old are five times (51%) more likely to purchase cultured meats than those who were fifty five or older(11%). Education also plays a significant role. College graduate are 44% more likely to purchase cultured meats opposed to non college graduate. According to the same study, liberals are also more likely to eat cultured meats that their republican counterparts.[7]
When analyzing comments on news articles related to cultured meats, the integration of cultured meats into normality in the minds of the public may be more difficult than expected. Although it must be taken into consideration that social media platforms and the internet tend to harbor more negative comments than positive opinions. More social issues such as who will be able to profit and produce cultured meats is a concern. For example, will farmers be ran out of business?
Many different worries have arisen from various groups of people over the prospect of cultured meat coming into the marketplace, but the prospect of these views changing for the better is still plausible.[8]
