THE TOPLINE
Companies like Upside Foods frame the debate as a fight for consumer freedom to choose lab-grown meat, but the underlying concern is public safety and transparency, as laws in Florida and Alabama seek to protect consumers by banning these products.
The concept of lab-grown meat relies on the flawed notion of bioequivalence, oversimplifying meat as just a few key fats and proteins while ignoring its complex and variable biological composition. Emerging research suggests lab-grown meat may contain unknown compounds with potential long-term health risks.
Lab-grown meat companies benefit from lenient regulation on products that are completely new to the food supply. The debate should focus on informed choice, with consumers needing transparency and more rigorous testing before these products are widely accepted.