US Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance has vouched for Indian vegetarian dishes over lab-made “fake” meat which he says is “disgusting”. Speaking at a podcast with wellness expert Joe Rogan Vance, married to an Indian American said fake meat was 'highly processed garbage' which creeps him out. Vance said his wife Usha prepares tasty Indian dishes and said that all vegetarians should go for "paneer, rice, and delicious chickpeas".
What is lab-grown meat? Also known as cultured or cultivated meat – it is grown from the cells of an animal, without any need to slaughter to obtain the meat. The animal’s cells are cultivated in stainless steel drums known as bioreactors - engineered to encourage replication of cells or growth of biological mass. The products that result from this process have been met with excitement due to their potential to replace the millions of animals being raised on factory farms around the world.
Experts say since cultured meat is produced in laboratory environments, it does not suffer from contamination and health issues that plague traditional meat producers like antibiotic resistance and foodborne and zoonotic illnesses. According to studies, around 3-6 per cent of Americans are vegan and vegetarians. Even though these meats may seem like healthy options, plant-based meats go through rigorous processing in which most of the nutrients get lost.
These also lack fibre and have preservatives along with artificial colours and seasonings..