What exactly is “meat”? The debate around animal and plant products

If you do the exercise of thinking of the word “ meat it is very likely that a series of images come to mind .

On the one hand, are the traditional products of animal origin. Those pieces, sausages and cold cuts, among other formats, which usually have a certain smell, texture and flavor according to each category.

And also there is food of vegetable origin which generally imitate the appearance and structure of the previous although with other characteristics that differentiate them in their composition.

The consumption of the latter has become increasingly popular over the years. So much so that even intense debates have arisen around the advantages—and disadvantages—that each offers and whether it is appropriate for these to be presented as “meat” .

Actually, in Chile just a few weeks ago, it was approved in the House of Representatives a project that aims to ban the use of said concept in edible products that are not of animal origin . Predictably, plant-based “meats” would be outside of this range.

Despite the fact that the motion has not yet been evaluated in the Senate, discussions around this issue have remained dormant. in different spaces, such as social networks.

In conversation with La Tercera, specialists in the field decipher the concept and opponents explain their vision on the matter.

When you look up the word in a language dictionary like the one in Royal Spanish Academy (EAR), The first two definitions that appear are: “Muscular part of the body of animals” and “Edible meat of cow, veal, pork, poultry, etc.” .

But if you go a little further, you will see that the third says “molar part of the fruit, which is under the shell or skin”, so with this definition, “meat” as such would not necessarily have to be of animal origin .

Faced with this scenario, which could cause confusion, the Food Regulatory Affairs Manager of the Technical Assistance Department of the enter from the University of Chile, Claudia Henríquez, points out that the dictionary definitions of the language do not apply when discussing this topic in technical terms .

This This happens with both meat and milk. .

“The truth is that this is already defined in our Food health regulations (RSA) “, explains the specialist, holder of a master’s degree in the field of food engineering, “We cannot be governed by the RAE in these cases” .

More specificly, of article 268, it is specified that “the denomination of meat means the edible part of the muscles of animals intended for food such as cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, goats, camelids and other species suitable for human consumption”.

With regard to milk, it is referred to from article 198 as “the normal mammary secretion free of colostrum, originating from dairy animals, obtained by one or more milkings, without any type of addition or extraction intended for consumption in the form of liquid milk or for further processing (…) for labeling purposes, milk without any other denomination is the product of the cow”.

This regulation is that which applies in the country and in the particular case of the latter, its definition is also included in article 105 of the Chilean health code where it is prohibited to classify and label as “milk” a product which is not of animal origin .

In this direction, If we come back to meat, which the motion passed in the Senate a few weeks ago aims to modify this last document, in order to maintain the ban on presenting products that are not of animal origin .

Added to this is another key aspect of law Project . If approved, “names associated with animal products, such as ‘hamburger’, ‘chorizo’, ‘sausage’, ‘cecina’ or others, may not be used to describe, promote or market food products which contain a higher proportion of material of plant origin than meat” .

As Inta expert, food engineer and academic of the School of Nutrition and Dietetics of the University of the Andes, Paulo Díaz, points out the RSA is “the framework in which we comply”, which already has the definition of meat “super explicit” .

“Afterwards, now comes a whole discussion of how these alternative products which are plant protein based and which come to replace the structure are classified “, he expresses.

“I think that basically, it will have to be fed both from the political side, to say it in a way, but also from the more technical side, from what is in the literature and from what the newspaper you say. Codex Alimentarius (…) I imagine that It’s going to be a very lively discussion.” adds Diaz.

One of the actors most present in discussions in this area is the foundation Vegetarians today international organization working in Latin America to “promote plant-based diets and reduce the suffering of animals intended for production”, as detailed on their website.

Regarding the project adopted by the Senate, the founder and general director, Ignacia Uribe, declares that “We really see it as quite problematic, because we also put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage, compared to what is happening in the world” .

In this sense, remember that “recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved even the production and trade of cultured meat, which would be a benefit that would be excluded from this bill For example”.

“We believe that This is an issue where the country could be a leader, especially with the ecosystem of innovation and tech development that exists here, but it will eventually hamper these fledgling industries. how is it herbalcultured meat and precision fermentation,” adds Uribe.

With, emphasizes that institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have previously warned of the links between meat consumption and the possibility of developing cancer a factor that is added to the ban on using said denomination, based on its analysis “We would prevent people from having access to healthier products and substitutes” .

Regarding the definitions present in the RSA, he accuses that “it is something that is clearly outdated”.

“While other countries, such as the United States, Singapore and parts of Europe, are already focusing on cultured meat production and herbalwe complicate the development of new products”.

In this sense, Uribe states, referring to meat: “If it is in the Sanitary Regulations and it is known that these products are carcinogenic, why not update so that those of vegetable origin or cultured meat also enter, which do not have the same problems as the traditional ones ? .