this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2024
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Scientists grow 'meaty' rice hybrid food for protein kick (www.bbc.co.uk)
submitted 9 months ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/science@beehaw.org
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paper in question describing this:

A strategy to develop a nutrient-rich hybrid food using rice grains functionalized with nanocoating and bovine cells for a sustainable food system is reported. Rice grains are safe food ingredients with a low incidence of allergy and have a nutritional profile and structure suited for 3D cell culture. An edible coating composed of fish gelatin and food enzymes offers a high affinity between rice grains and cells and improves the structural stability of grains for increased cell capacity. The potential of rice grains as cell scaffolds is demonstrated by investigating the interactions between the coating, grains, and cells. The rice grains are transformed into a hybrid food with animal nutrients by containing organized bovine cells. We discuss the food properties and production value of this rice-based meat to evaluate its potential as a sustainable food that guarantees safety from food crises and global warming.

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 37 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (10 children)

My first thought was "WTF", but then I considered the problem. You can grow beef cells, but only easily in a thin layer. So, get something porous but edible, and grow the cells all over it. Rice is just an obvious choice from a culinary perspective.

It's weird, but I bet cooked up as a burrito or casserole this could actually be appealing, and it'll be way easier to commercialise than more traditional meat shapes.

Edit: So, here's Nature on the same. As usual, popsci left out the gotcha, and that's that there's not actually a significant amount of beef there. Rice is only slightly porous, just as it seems, I guess.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 8 points 9 months ago (9 children)

Once you can eat a hotdog, you can eat anything. Chicken nuggets and surimi are an even worse "meat shape", yet plenty of people eat them.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 9 months ago (8 children)

“meat shape”

Oh god, did I just coin that? Why did it have to be that?

[–] kapx132@beehaw.org 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What meat shapes are your favourites? mine is the token shape as it is easily applicable to bread products.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm a vegetarian, lol!

[–] kapx132@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

What is your favourite plant then? i like munching on lettuce as a snack, but kiwis are a close second

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Definitely some kind of fruit, I love that shit. It's hard to pick a favourite, but maybe pineapple?

[–] Quexotic@beehaw.org 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I like pineapple because when you eat it, it eats you; the bromelin starts "digesting" your mouth as soon as you dig in.

So fun. Also nothing else is more delicious than fresh sliced pineapple.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

So you're saying my favourite fruit is, itself, not vegetarian?

The confusing thing about that is that pineapple actually is a fruit, botanically. It would make so much more sense if it was a succulant, being pointy, large and chemically hostile, and growing on a plant adapted for low-water CAM photosynthesis.

[–] Quexotic@beehaw.org 1 points 8 months ago

I never thought of it that way but your reasoning is not unsound. Hahahaha.

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