Cell-cultured meat goes to the dogs

The Economist reports that start-ups have appeared with ambitions of peddling a new product for our four-legged friends: cell-cultured pet food. Scientifically, the product sounds fairly similar to the stuff on the cusp of being sold to humans. There is some marketing logic to it: In many countries, pet owners are more likely than other people to be vegetarians and morally opposed to the idea of animal slaughter, writes The Economist. Plus, a certain kind of pet parent may be willing to shell out the big bucks on a premium product for their babies. But the more likely explanation for this new class of product? Cats and dogs don’t have discerning palates. A new product, birthed in labs, overseen by entrepreneurs with no culinary backgrounds? Humans might pass. But not Fido and Whiskers.