Research funded by Google co-founder Serget Brin, has now produced the worlds first lab grown burger to be eaten by humans. The meat has been produced by cells taken from a cow and turned into strips of muscle which has been combined to make a patty, all in a laboratorial institute in the Netherlands, according to the BBC. Both researchers and critics have been vocal in defending and attacking the research, the former suggesting that this technology will pave the way to sustainable demand for meet. Critics have said that eating less meat is the only true sustainable solution to the envisaged crisis that also has an impact on the environment. To some, this sounds very much like Dr Frankenstein stuff and creepy at best but researchers insist that this is safe albeit that the meat comes out white initially and is then coloured red by adding the naturally occurring compound myoglobin. Helen Breewood, who is working on the project said “If it doesn’t look like normal meat it’s not….going to be a viable replacement”. Curiously, this work in progress and in fact the burger eaten contained beetroot juice dye along with added flavours of caramel, breadcrumbs and saffron to hide, what Professor Post described the burger as “not tasting great” but will expect to be good enough!

Food writer Sybil Kapoor was quoted as saying that she felt “uneasy”. “The further you deviate from a normal and natural diet the more potential risks people can run in terms of health and other issues”.

This is of interest to the insurance market also as there is a potential unknown knock-on impact within food chains, health driven consumption and the insurable risk of this research directly. By delving into the unknown, just like questionable materials such as MDF and the well known issues surrounding the once miracle material, Asbestos, insurers will surely tread very carefully in covering risks of this nature. Cheap public liability insurance will not be easily obtainable, nor Cheap products liability insurance – often overlooked by managers who by cheap business insurance. Evolution and practice will ultimately dictate how the market for genetically modified and lab grown food will diversify and become a part of normal daily life.