Tattva-viveka
In vitro meat
Gauravani Dasa - December 10, 2009 1:43 pm
I've come across several articles about "in vitro meat," which is described as "animal flesh that has never been part of a complete, living animal" (from Wikipedia).
I don't think this type of "food" is offerable but this article gives some environmental/sustainable reasons why it might be a reasonable alternative for those who are not vegetarian: Eight Ways In-Vitro Meat will Change Our Lives.
What would be Gaudiya opinion on this? It seems like a step away from exploitation; just not a very big step.
Madan Gopal Das - December 10, 2009 5:08 pm
I saw or heard or read something about this on the news. They have taken cells from a pig and created meat, without harming the stem cell donor. They are years away from developing the process more to create meat like people are familiar with right now. Seems like it could have huge ramifications (environmental, ethical, etc.), but I suspect meat-eaters would take their time before it became acceptable or fashionable. The meat industry may kill it too before it would have a chance to put them out of business.
Still gives me the willies though, even grown in a petri dish with no blood or suffering. Reminds me of the category of some foods like red lentils or high protein foods that are considered non-edible or "meat" by some Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
Babhru Das - December 11, 2009 2:13 am
My immediate response was, "Eww!!" This may be a small step away from directly exploiting--or at least murdering--animals, but it just gives me the creeps. Too much ick factor for my taste.
But I never liked meat as a kid, even before I realized it came from killing animals. Although I wrote stuff about a full-spectrum case against eating meat (aesthetic, environmental, moral, spiritual, etc.), I guess I started with an aesthetic objection to meat. It was just gross.My parents had a hell of a time at dinner with me, and even my mom told my kids about how, at the age of four and five, I'd spit the meat out at the dinner table or run into the bathroom to spit it in the toilet. Becoming a vegetarian when I was older wasn't hard for me. It seemed the natural diet for me.
Braja-sundari Dasi - December 11, 2009 10:39 pm
But I never liked meat as a kid, even before I realized it came from killing animals. Although I wrote stuff about a full-spectrum case against eating meat (aesthetic, environmental, moral, spiritual, etc.), I guess I started with an aesthetic objection to meat. It was just gross.My parents had a hell of a time at dinner with me, and even my mom told my kids about how, at the age of four and five, I'd spit the meat out at the dinner table or run into the bathroom to spit it in the toilet. Becoming a vegetarian when I was older wasn't hard for me. It seemed the natural diet for me.
I had similar experience> I just never could really chew meat and I was spitting it back on the plate. When I became a vegatarian my dad said "thanks god, she will stop spiting" :He He:
But coming back to the topic... I have a friend who is a scientist and works with in vitro cultures. Before she was working with plants, now she does something with blood. She cannot use her own blood for her research because the cells mutate so quickly that by accidental splashing it she could infect herself with cancer. And she commented that for this reason she would not risk eating this kind of "meat"
I don`t know, many slaughtered animals probably have cancer and nobody thinks it can spread on people. I guess if this invention becomes popular people will "grow" their beef and pork just like we grow tomatoes.
I would never want to try it anyway 
Bijaya Kumara Das - December 15, 2009 8:42 am
This is nothing new Standard oil has been growing vegetable protein from oil sludge since the 70's, bacteria clean the tanks and the protein is extracted and you can not tell the diff from the real thing. Like the 7th day adventist have the gluten and soy type vegy meat that is done by controled rotting of the beans and gluten for flavor.
They also grew a throat in Columbia for a man from his own t cells. They have been growing skin cells form peoples own cells and making skin for burn victims for many years, it was on how it is made a few months back.
They will try next to grow ?
Not a very big step for sure but one that may be very ?able.
Eww is very good description.
Vamsidhari Dasa - April 10, 2010 6:17 pm
What would be Gaudiya opinion on this? It seems like a step away from exploitation; just not a very big step.
I do not know what Gaudiya opinion would be but my is: 
:Sick: :Sick: :Sick: :Sick: :Sick: :Sick: :Sick: :Sick: