Frakenfoods is a term used to described genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This blog post is not about GMOs (but I will have to make a note to do one… the debate can be heated so I need to do my homework).
Q: What do you call a cow bred to only produce skimmed milk? A: Frankenmoo
According to this article which cites a food science journal, cows could be bred to produce only skimmed milk within the next five years, offering a new way of meeting consumer demand for lower fat dairy.
I’m sorry, but I don’t get it… what’s the point? Evidently, the costs for milk would decrease because producers wouldn’t have to pay to dispose of excess cream (waste – but not really since cream is used to make a number of other dairy products) from the milk of a “traditional” cow. Exactly how much of a cost savings could be realized and who reaps the benefits of the cost savings? Will consumers accept milk from a cow bred to produce low fat milk. Will consumers be notified if such a cow was used to produce their milk? I would really love to hear some stronger arguments for the benefits of moving forward with this breeding. Is there another example in the food industry where breeding occurs to produce a consumer-driven desired outcome?
As one of my great friends said when we went for a 5-mile walk today…. Don’t ”mess” with nature.
Thoughts?
Filed under: food, food industry, food safety, health, policy
wow. That’s really spooky. I like your blog a lot. I found yours because you found mine, but I doubt mine is to your liking.
Thought I’d drop by and say I’m subscribing to your blog. You put a lot of care into it and it shows.
love, iA
Yep, there already is another example in the food industry where breeding occurs to produce a consumer-driven desired outcome: chickens have been altered- Americans desire white meat and larger portions- have you seen the size of chicken ta-ta’s lately? That was achieved through cross- breeding and a little genetic engineering. Lots of produce has been genetically altered, as well, to have a longer shelf life and for larger size, unfortunately the price we pay for giant strawberries and perfectly shaped tomatoes is lack of flavor!