“Clean” has become a dirty word in beef-farming circles.
That’s because those who favour the new science of generating “beef” in the laboratory are calling it “clean meat”.
The science multiplies animal cells in the lab. So far it’s costing about $35,000 per pound to produce, but researchers are optimistic that it can be made competitive and they have deep-pocketed investors backing them.
But many in the beef industry want “clean meat” nomenclature banned.
“It implies that traditional beef is dirty,” says Danielle Beck, director of government affairs for the U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
The United States Food and Drug Administration plans to hold hearings on the issue next month.
Whatever it decides will likely be copied by Canadian regulators in order to keep trade open.
