Woolly Mammoth Meatball Conjures Curiosity and Controversy

There are very few artistic expressions within the long and complex history of the human race that have the nuance of our cuisine.  From America’s tireless work to curate the most potent barbecue culture on the planet, to the caviar industry in Russia, man has spent an incredible and inordinate amount of time over the last several millennia creating new delicacies and delights, influence by all manner of experience and geography.

But there are some lines that many of us are not willing to cross when it comes to adventurous dining.  Bugs, brains, and some of the stranger creatures in the sea come to mind immediately as lesser-traveled paths of culinary cognizance.

Now, as technology continues to increasingly push the boundaries of man’s capability, we will be struggling with a new ethical dilemma about eating:  Is it okay to eat a lab-grown protein that comes from an extinct creature?

A mammoth meatball has been created by a cultivated meat company, resurrecting the flesh of the long-extinct animals.

The project aims to demonstrate the potential of meat grown from cells, without the slaughter of animals, and to highlight the link between large-scale livestock production and the destruction of wildlife and the climate crisis.

The mammoth meatball was produced by Vow, an Australian company, which is taking a different approach to cultured meat.

There are scores of companies working on replacements for conventional meat, such as chicken, pork and beef. But Vow is aiming to mix and match cells from unconventional species to create new kinds of meat.

The company was also working on some more mundane fare, some of which was slated to hit stores within months.

The company has already investigated the potential of more than 50 species, including alpaca, buffalo, crocodile, kangaroo, peacocks and different types of fish.

The first cultivated meat to be sold to diners will be Japanese quail, which the company expects will be in restaurants in Singapore this year.

Due to concerns about the protein’s long absence from the global environment, no one has yet tasted the mammoth meatball.

The meatball will be on display this week at a museum in Norway.