Cultivated Meat: Ethical Innovation or Vegan Contradiction?
Vegan Values
The debate over cultivated meat has intensified as the technology progresses, raising important questions about its alignment with vegan principles.
‘‘Can cultivated meat redefine ethical eating? With promises of reduced animal suffering and environmental impact, it sparks hope and debate. But does it truly align with compassionate living, or are there deeper ethical questions to consider? The conversation is just beginning.’’
While it offers potential benefits like reducing animal slaughter, improving environmental sustainability, and addressing public health concerns, The Vegan Society asserts that cultivated meat is not vegan and might never be considered so.
The Vegan Society’s Stance
In a recently released research briefing, The Vegan Society explores the intersections between veganism, ethics, and cultivated meat. They acknowledge its potential to reduce environmental harm, mitigate zoonotic disease risks, and lessen antibiotic resistance. However, they emphasize that cultivated meat currently fails to align with the core principles of veganism.
“Veganism as a philosophy is concerned with ending the exploitation of, and cruelty to, non-human animals,” the organization explains. While some vegans may find the technology’s potential appealing, The Vegan Society makes their position clear: "Cultured meat is not vegan.”
The Society notes that cultivated meat technology has moved rapidly from science fiction to reality. It is now approved in countries like Singapore, the US, and Israel, served in restaurants in Hong Kong, and even incorporated into pet food in the UK. Despite this progress, they argue that the process still involves animal exploitation, which remains a fundamental barrier to its acceptance within the vegan community.
The Continued Use of Animals
At the heart of the issue is speciesism — the belief in human superiority that justifies the exploitation of animals. Veganism fundamentally opposes this mindset by promoting animal-free alternatives in food, clothing, and entertainment. Cultivated meat, however, continues to rely on animal-derived cells as the foundation for its production.
This reliance on animals conflicts with the vegan principle of avoiding all forms of exploitation. Although some researchers are working toward developing cell lines that no longer require animal involvement, this remains theoretical. The Vegan Society points out that the animals used for cell extraction often face traditional farming conditions, and their fate after the extraction process is unclear.
“Even if cultivated meat could significantly reduce the number of animals slaughtered, it is only partially free from animal use,” the organization states. For veganism to embrace cultivated meat, the technology would need to completely eliminate animal exploitation, a milestone that has yet to be achieved.
Ethical and Economic Concerns
Beyond its reliance on animals, The Vegan Society raises concerns about the broader implications of cultivated meat. They argue that its production opens significant profit-making opportunities for traditional meat corporations, such as Cargill and Tyson, which are heavily invested in animal agriculture. These companies’ involvement undermines the goal of ending animal exploitation, as their profits would likely continue to fund industries reliant on dairy, wool, eggs, and leather.
The Society also highlights the availability of vegan meat alternatives that do not involve animal-derived ingredients or processes. From plant-based burgers to jackfruit-based “pulled pork,” these products align more closely with vegan ethics and represent kinder alternatives to cultivated meat.
“As it currently stands, the process of cultivated meat is not enough for us to support it. There is already a myriad of vegan meat alternatives that don’t derive from cultivated or lab-grown meats,” they note.
Moving Forward
Cultivated meat undoubtedly represents an innovative step in reducing the global reliance on animal agriculture. Its ability to decrease the number of animals slaughtered and lessen environmental harm cannot be ignored. However, as The Vegan Society outlines, the technology remains rooted in animal exploitation, falling short of vegan ideals.
For vegans, the choice becomes clear: advocate for and support alternatives that are entirely free of animal use. The future of food should prioritize compassion, sustainability, and justice for all beings. Until cultivated meat evolves beyond its current reliance on animals, it cannot be embraced as a truly vegan option.
Source: The Vegan Society | Research Briefing: Cultured Meat
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General Resources
Books:
Dominion: The Power of Animals in Nature and in Our Imagination by Matthew Scully
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
A Billion Hungry Mouths: Feeding the World Without Consuming the Planet by Colin Tudge
Websites and organizations:
Documentaries:
Articles:
"The Case for Animal Rights" by Tom Regan
‘‘Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism’’ by Melanie Joy
‘‘Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach’’ by Gary L. Francione
‘‘Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals’’ by Christine Korsgaard
Seeds of Compassion: Finding Jesus Christ in a Vegan World by Michael Corthell
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I've thought about this a lot as well and I agree. While it's better to have less slaughtered animals, why are we depending on animals at all?
For me, cultured meat occupies the same moral space as fake fur. Fake fur might be *technically* vegan, but the message is sends is still "this looks better on me than on an animal", which I find a hideously vain opinion. Fake meat is still saying "I need meat" which is an obvious anathema to a vegan, surely?