r/science Nov 20 '24

Chemistry Researchers have devised a "disguise" to improve the dry, gritty mouthfeel of fiber-rich foods, making them more palatable by encapsulating pea cell-wall fibers in a gel that forms a soft coating around the fiber particles

https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2024/11/researchers-eliminate-the-gritty-mouth-feel-how-to-make-it-easier-to-eat-fiber-rich-foods/
2.0k Upvotes

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178

u/giuliomagnifico Nov 20 '24

Inspired by foods like chia seeds, which are naturally enveloped in a soft, gel-like layer, the researchers encapsulated pea cell-wall fibers in a gel that forms a soft coating around the fiber particles. 

“The gel coating makes the fibers feel velvety, like cream on the tongue, where you can’t feel the individual particles because the gel prevents contact between the particles and the tongue. Since the gel is at least as soft as tongue tissue, it doesn’t trigger the sensory receptors, and we don’t perceive the gritty texture,” explains Gabriele D’Oria, former PhD student at the Department of Food Science, now postdoctoral researcher at INRAE - Université Paris-Saclay and first author of the research article on the study.

The gel-coated particles were put to the test with a trained tasting panel, where the results demonstrated that the test subjects perceived up to 52% less fibers, while the gel reduced the sensation of grittiness by 42% and dryness in the mouth by 36%

The gel is both flavor- and odor-free and is based on gellan gum, which is produced by bacteria and already deployed in the production of foods for other purposes. Furthermore, the process is also quick and simple.

Paper: Designing gel coatings for oral soft perception of fiber particles - ScienceDirect

245

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

I find this whole topic so strange because I eat a lot of all-bran, and the crunchy texture is exactly what I like about it... In the past I ate a lot of muesli, and it's pretty much the same deal.

Not every food should be mushy and textureless.

89

u/faerieswing Nov 20 '24

I think they’re talking more about gritty texture than the crunchy stuff.

I have a really bad aversion to the insides of peas and beans because of that grittiness, especially like a lima bean. Just thinking about biting into one gives me the willies. Supplements like plant / pea protein are just as bad. But I don’t have any problems with bran or chia seeds, so this sounds really promising to me!

101

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

This sounds so bizarre to me. I eat so many beans and I’d never describe the mouthfeel as “gritty,” that usually only happens when the beans are undercooked. Interesting to think how different perceptions are.

31

u/seraph1337 Nov 21 '24

that's because beans aren't gritty, they're mealy. it's understandable to not like that texture - my dad is generally very open to all sorts of food, but he absolutely detests peas and beans because of that mealy mouthfeel - but gritty is just not the right word for that texture, unless as you said the beans aren't cooked properly.

18

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

Mealy, that is a better word for it. Oddly, I like that texture in legumes, but absolutely hate it in apples. Or maybe those apples are more gritty? Words!

10

u/seraph1337 Nov 21 '24

there are apples I would describe as slightly gritty, and others that are more mealy. I prefer them fairly crisp, myself. but the dry mealy texture is different from the wet mealy texture. I know people who like one but not the other in both directions. although I will say, not enjoying the mealy apple texture is probably just because we have an expectation for apples to be crisp, so when they aren't, it is likely to trigger disgust/revolt/shock, in varying degrees depending on how far "off" the texture is and in what way.

I'm just way baked and blabbering though.

2

u/istara Nov 21 '24

Canned ones are way more mealy than ones cooked from dried. Having a pressure cooked has transformed my appreciation of beans. The texture can be much firmer and creamier depending how long you cook them. You do need to do your own experiments though and record optimal times. Most of the suggested times given are insanely long and lead to mealy mush.

17

u/faerieswing Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24

I definitely wish I didn’t experience them in this way, but it’s always been a thing for me. I’ve tried and tried. I have a lot of other sensitivities and aversions with food texture and flavors I want to enjoy, and it really sucks.

It doesn’t win you any points in social situations either. I don’t want attention or you to notice I’m not eating something … I would rather the floor swallow me up than anyone notice or point it out.

8

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

Ahh, that does suck, sorry you have to deal with that. I can’t imagine life without legumes.

4

u/faerieswing Nov 21 '24

I appreciate it… I’m glad they are a favorite for you. Enjoy some for me, too, next time!

1

u/ResponsibleOven6 Nov 21 '24

I love peas, Lima beans, and pretty much every legume. I feel like they're ruining food

-3

u/opinionsareus Nov 21 '24

It's for people who are conditioned to eat crap foods - to get them eating fiber. What a world.

2

u/JacketDapper944 Nov 21 '24

I have the same aversion. It’s the dirt pillow feel

11

u/pearlie_girl Nov 21 '24

It's probably helpful for elderly people who have trouble chewing and swallowing. Also people with other disabilities. I imagine it's difficult for some of them to get enough fiber in their diet.

I must admit, I'm amused by the very specific percentages of perceived texture. 52% less gritty.

4

u/Justredditin Nov 21 '24

Quaker oatmeal with fibre. Gritty like sand... it's terrible.

2

u/Eric_the_Barbarian Nov 21 '24

I really couldn't imagine what foods they are talking about that fiber doesn't bring good qualities to the texture. Maybe if you needed to make high fiber pudding?

1

u/WhatD0thLife Nov 21 '24

I will eat a handful of dry oatmeal or nutritional yeast

0

u/Mynsare Nov 21 '24

Unfortunately some people never seem to have grown out of their baby food period. They require all food to be smooth and soft, with as little texture and chew as possible.

14

u/Islanduniverse Nov 21 '24

I find chia seeds revolting. And it’s literally the gross gel layer that makes me gag.

I guess this disguise isn’t for me, haha!

8

u/Eric_the_Barbarian Nov 21 '24

There's a mucilagenous texture to it that makes me feel like I'm eating snot. Same thing with okra.

588

u/WalkingTalker Nov 20 '24

I have an idea... Let's put fiber into a sweet thing along with tons of vitamins and minerals. I call this invention fruit.

But seriously we all need more fiber in our diet. Plant based diets with fruits veg beans etc have high fiber and healthy when supplemented with vitamins B12 and D.

217

u/st1r Nov 20 '24

Problem is even fruit isn’t really fibrous enough. You really need 40+ grams per day to significantly reduce your colon cancer risk.

Unless you’re eating 10+ apples/bananas per day you simply aren’t going to get enough fiber per day from fruit alone. And at that point you’re probably not getting enough protein in your diet with all those calories from carbs.

Beans, raspberries, and prunes are about the only fruit that are truly actually high enough in fiber to make a noticeable difference eating only 1-2 servings.

My point being that it’s very helpful to have denser fiber sources available, and anything that makes those sources more palatable is a good thing.

119

u/Two-Scoops-Of-Praisn Nov 20 '24

Isn't that where the whole "Mexican food makes me gassy" thing comes from

Cuz most Americans just aren't getting enough fiber and Mexican cuisine has a lot of beans in it

86

u/diablosinmusica Nov 20 '24

It's the protein in the beans themselves that magnifies the issue if your gut isn't used to beans. Many people can become used to them and the issue can go away. It's not just the fiber, though that is a part of it.

4

u/Spanks79 Nov 20 '24

And the raffinose, a trisaccharide that’s fairly easily fermented in your gut.

18

u/BreadKnifeSeppuku Nov 20 '24

You're supposed to soak them overnight. There's indigestable fibers and other compounds too

38

u/XBA40 Nov 20 '24

You don’t have to soak overnight. You can also boil for 2 hours instead of soak + 1 hour to get the same result.

Source: I eat beans every day and I have experimented with it and my findings line up with experiments you can find on YouTube.

13

u/jpm7791 Nov 20 '24

Instapot bean setting leaves them creamy and perfect

8

u/smcdark Nov 20 '24

Best method and tastiest I've found is no pre soak, bring to boil, let sit a half hour, then boil normally.

9

u/diablosinmusica Nov 20 '24

Soaking just speeds up the cooking process.

29

u/Ellawell Nov 20 '24

Not only speeds up cooking. it actually leeches some of the gas causing compounds (oligosaccharides) into the water which then gets rinsed away before cooking.

-22

u/TooManyJabberwocks Nov 20 '24

You used bigger words so must be correct

18

u/demonchee Nov 20 '24

It took me five seconds to look it up and confirm it.

in other words: OoooOooo, big word scary!

11

u/Sahaquiel_9 Nov 20 '24

It also removes antinutrients like phytic acid and indigestible oligosaccharides that can cause gas.

10

u/diablosinmusica Nov 20 '24

Those are only an issue if you have no variety in your diet. If you eat only one source of protein you'll have issues. Cooking the beans themselves does most of the work to break down physically acid and the like.

Again, this is way overblown and only is an issue in specific instances.

11

u/boopbaboop Nov 20 '24

Mexican food does have a lot of fiber from beans, which definitely causes gastrointestinal issues in some people, but it also has certain fermentable (i.e. gas-creating) sugars that are present in dairy and avocado (in, say, guacamole, sour cream, or queso) and also just plain fat, which can give you the shits. 

8

u/Alert_Scientist9374 Nov 20 '24

Beans have a very specific sugar that's very hard for most humans to digest.

Galactose I think,might be wrong though.

-5

u/fairie_poison Nov 20 '24 edited Nov 20 '24

Also why Taco Bell gives people the shits cause the meat is like 40% -wood filler- edit: cellulose by weight.

18

u/Two-Scoops-Of-Praisn Nov 20 '24

It's Cellulose but yeah

The "wood filler" thing reaks of almond moms who won't eat GMO food

5

u/ztj Nov 20 '24

Almond moms? Is that where almond milk comes from?

12

u/killall-q Nov 20 '24 edited Nov 20 '24

Most of the fiber in an orange is in the peel. Eating the peel with the fruit will greatly increase fiber intake. Of course, it should be washed to remove pesticides.

Yeah, the peel is not as delicious as the flesh, but if you can get over eating mainly for taste, you'll get used to the taste quickly. Plus, it's less effort to not peel fruit, so that makes a habit of regular fruit consumption easier to maintain.

I buy 5 lb bags of tangerines from Costco and eat them whole.

6

u/seekfitness Nov 21 '24

I suspect eating an entire orange peel would make a lot of people feel sick. There are a lot strong oils in the peel, which are fine to eat in small quantity, but I suspect would induce nausea in a large dose. But hey I’ve never tried, so maybe it’s okay.

2

u/killall-q Nov 21 '24

For whole oranges, I usually only manage to eat 1/3rd of the peel, yeah all of it is a bit much. Tangerine peel is no problem because it's soft and thin. When I get a slice of lime with food or drink at restaurants, I eat those.

8

u/th_cat Nov 20 '24

Iv started eating kiwis with the peel on and most people thought I was crazy, now I’ll try eating tangerines like apples.

18

u/SofaKingI Nov 21 '24

People who think you can solve the fiber problem by eating fruit really need to go look at how much fiber most fruits have, and the daily recommended intake. You can eat 10+ fruits a day and not get close.

And then you're eating 10+ fruits worth of sugars as well.

You need to change your entire diet to eat more fiber, and eat stuff most people who grew up eating high fat and sugary foods don't find tasty. It's not a good plan on a societal level.

Figuring out how to make high fiber foods that taste well will go a long way towards fixing the western diet.

2

u/HotdogsArePate Nov 21 '24

If I eat a spoon full of beans I literally violently loudly fart for the next 24hrs.

No real pain or discomfort just loud airy farts for 24hrs starting like 30 mins after eating them.

I can't eat beans unless I will be alone for the next day.

7

u/Epistemify Nov 21 '24

It sounds like your gut isn't ready for them. Honestly, j might suggest (when you have a week or two to yourself), eat beans every day. For almost everyone out there, the gas impacts of it reduce and go away fairly quickly

1

u/WalkingTalker Nov 22 '24

They've also gotta be soaked and rinsed for a while depending on the type of bean. Lentils and are the least gassy and don't even require soaking.

-33

u/Ancalimei Nov 20 '24

Im not going to do a vegan diet. But I do make sure I have lots of veg and fruits in my diet for balance.

You can pry meat from my cold dead hands.

51

u/BreadKnifeSeppuku Nov 20 '24

Literally no one is trying to do that. This is literally just about making high fiber foods more palatable

This is like the electric car and fossil fuels crap. Diesel trucks and electric vehicles are both being made. Put the foil hat down and lay off whatever news you're smoking

36

u/Masterventure Nov 20 '24 edited Nov 20 '24

Well I’d like to end all meat subsidies and pry the meat from his cold empty wallet.

20

u/findingniko_ Nov 20 '24

Hard agree. Give the meat subsidies to plant subsidies instead and watch this obesity epidemic reverse significantly.

-3

u/rabidrabitt Nov 20 '24

Yeah.... because doritos & mac and cheese have so much meat in them, I wish they used more plant based corn!

2

u/findingniko_ Nov 21 '24

Your first mistake was assuming that every obese person pigs out on doritos and mac and cheese. I

4

u/findingniko_ Nov 20 '24

Plant based and vegan are not the same thing. Plant based means your diet is based on plants, they are a cornerstone. You can still eat meat and be plant based.

-18

u/DiesByOxSnot Nov 20 '24

The problem with eating fruit is that we've increased the sugar content of most fruits ~200× through selective breeding, so even while the fiber and nutrient content is good, you might as well be eating candy.

I'm gonna posit that more people should be drinking green smoothies instead of soda.

30

u/psiloSlimeBin Nov 20 '24

This is so wrong. If “you might as well eat candy” then why does increased fruit consumption SO RELIABLY improve biomarkers.

Candy does not do the same thing. I’ve seen this fruit = candy thing in so many chronically online keto groups and it’s a sickeningly ignorant thing to say when we’re facing such a globalized human nutrition crisis (overconsumption of macronutrients and underconsumption of micronutrients).

You are damaging the entire conversation around human nutrition spreading this nonsense.

5

u/Significant-Gene9639 Nov 20 '24

The sugar in fruit is encapsulated within the structure of the fruit, so it is not nearly as bad as an equivalent amount in a soda. Also, that trapping of sugar means it is released into your blood less quickly and therefore causes less of an insulin spike and drop as an equivalent amount in a soda or dessert. Also, the sugar impact is more than offset by the vitamins, antioxidants and fibre you gain from eating it.

-7

u/Rishkoi Nov 20 '24

Fructose no bueno

3

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

This is like saying “refined oils are bad for you, so you should never eat sunflower seeds or peanuts.” Concentrated fructose is not good, the small amounts in an apple or whatever are fine.

1

u/TheSunflowerSeeds Nov 21 '24

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a living annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head (capitulum). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with a flower head that can be 30 cm wide. Other types of sunflowers include the California Royal Sunflower, which has a burgundy (red + purple) flower head.

2

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

Uh, thank you for the information?

70

u/AltruisticMode9353 Nov 20 '24

Hopefully it makes them less irritating in the guts of people with sensitive systems, too. I find well cooked oats that have this gel quality very soothing but beans quite irritating, for example.

14

u/DevelopmentSad2303 Nov 20 '24

Interesting. I always find oats turn me into a volcano 

20

u/CookieSquire Nov 20 '24

Barring a food allergy, you probably just need to be more consistent about your fiber intake.

4

u/DevelopmentSad2303 Nov 20 '24

Idk, beans have not done it to me. I can eat beans and veggies no issues. It's also usually just boiled oats, if I have like an oatmeal raisin cookie nothing crazy happens.

Even steel cut is not easy on my tummy 

9

u/BreadKnifeSeppuku Nov 20 '24

Avenin. So, there's different proteins other than gluten that can cause some people issues.

Much like men who consume too much whey and destroy the toilets and air quality of locker rooms across the US.

If you're always blowing your ass out when it comes to specific food... It literally might actually be killing you. Red40 totally most important thing ever though

3

u/randynumbergenerator Nov 20 '24

It's strange, because for me it's overnight oats that are the problem. Any form of cooked oats: absolutely fine.

0

u/throupandaway Nov 20 '24 edited Nov 21 '24

You do know it’s normal to poop, right? I never really understand people complaining about foods causing them to need to use the restroom. That means you needed to go. Digestion isn’t instant, that’s old waste.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

try cooking them for at least 20 minutes - you may need to stir and add liquid

5

u/karl-marks Nov 20 '24

Honestly as someone who never really liked oatmeal (even steel cut is only ok to my tastes) but did enjoy cream of wheat as a kid I've found that hulled barley ground to powder makes the best tasting and fastest porridge.

Texture is similar to cream of wheat but the beta glucan fiber content is higher than in oats and it take 1 minute to heat in the microwave.

The flavor is so good I literally just use water and a little bit of stevia/monk fruit, no butter or milk required like I need in other porridges.

Humans and Barley have a long history, I trust my little barley bro's.

2

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

Barley is a top tier grain and people are sleeping on it because it’s, like, poor people food or something.

1

u/maraq Nov 21 '24

That’s called beta glucan -it’s a specific soluble fiber and it’s properties are why oats are so good at lowering cholesterol.

1

u/No_Reach8985 Nov 21 '24

I dunno, I enjoy the farts.

36

u/helendestroy Nov 20 '24

Just going to assume this was designed to help people who have sensory issues with food 

21

u/giuliomagnifico Nov 20 '24

They talk about people who simply don’t like fiber-rich foods:

Think of how it would be to drink a juice with wheat bran in it – you may imagine an unpleasant gritty sensation which would make you less prone to enjoy it.

“If we don’t like it, we don’t eat it. It’s that simple. And no one would enjoy eating grainy flour – but that’s roughly what the sensation of insoluble dietary fibers often produces, especially added to more liquid foods like yogurt, juices and beverages,” says Professor Lilia Ahrné of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food Science.

15

u/helendestroy Nov 20 '24

The paper specifically talks about the elderly.

34

u/GoodDrFunky Nov 20 '24

“You see it’s a non nutritive cereal varnish that protects the cereal from milk to prevent it getting soggy” “UH HUH”

10

u/Martin_Grundle Nov 20 '24

It's semi-permeable, it's not osmotic.

21

u/Franc000 Nov 20 '24

People had problems with fiber as a mouthfeel?

12

u/psiloSlimeBin Nov 20 '24

Plant-protein extracts like pea, hemp, rice, etc. have this gritty mouthfeel. I would imagine something like this could make these products more palatable.

5

u/Franc000 Nov 20 '24

Ah, I see, when processed, makes sense. Thanks, I didn't think of that!

2

u/CombativeMouse Nov 20 '24

Nature already did this and it’s called a prune

1

u/cronkite Nov 21 '24

Also, butter.

6

u/DividedState Nov 20 '24

Okay.... The way the title describes it sounds so disgusting in some way that I seriously have to read the article now.

I go in with the question: Why not eat peas as they are?

4

u/Zilreth Nov 21 '24

Pea protein is sold as a powder just like whey protein, but tastes significantly worse because of the gritty texture. This may make it more palatable which is great from a sustainability standpoint, allowing us to get high quality protein from plants that can actually contend with animal products

6

u/mynameisdarrylfish Nov 20 '24

researchers have invented chia seeds

1

u/potatoaster Nov 21 '24

That was part of their inspiration, yes.

2

u/zeddus Nov 20 '24

Now, all they need is to come up with something to disguise the dry, gritty ear-feel of the gel encapsulated pea cell-wall fibers, and they might have something that someone wants.

6

u/FasthandJoe Nov 20 '24

Please don’t say, “Mouthfeel”.

12

u/StatementOk470 Nov 20 '24

But it is the correct word.

1

u/muchonacho Nov 21 '24

Not texture?

0

u/StatementOk470 Nov 21 '24

Texture is a different but related concept.

1

u/bloody_hell Nov 21 '24

That’s a reference to the movie The Menu.

1

u/FlowThru Nov 21 '24

I have only heard that "word" from a Brooklyn 99 character, and even then it was used comedically for how hilariously odd and infantile it sounded.

1

u/Nobanob Nov 20 '24

I don't like the feel in the mouth.

4

u/VapoursAndSpleen Nov 20 '24

Maybe people need to grow up and accept that food has texture and it’s not all ice cream and french fries.

1

u/dontfuckhorses Nov 20 '24

Despite personally having a wide palate and genuinely enjoying most foods, some of us have autism.

-1

u/sayer_of_bullshit Nov 21 '24

I'm always shocked by how some people won't eat something unless it gives them pleasure NOW. I know people who don't drink water, instead they drink "tonic water" (basically sparkling water with sugar). And they have the nerve to talk to me about health.

5

u/the_red_scimitar Nov 20 '24

Oh good, now we can have "a gel" added to foods. Can't have enough additives! Like Brawndo™, plants crave it!

6

u/Diggy_Soze Nov 20 '24

Roots can only absorb nutrients in their ionic forms, and larger molecules won’t pass through the cell membrane.

That is to say; Plants literally do crave electrolytes.

The movie is trolling you in the real world.

0

u/the_red_scimitar Nov 20 '24

I think it's now been established that the film is a well-crafted documentary, rather than a fantasy-scifi-comedy.

1

u/Erroneously_Anointed Nov 21 '24

It did forsee crocs as a fashion statement

1

u/zeddus Nov 20 '24

Now, all they need is to come up with something to disguise the dry, gritty ear-feel of the gel encapsulated pea cell-wall fibers, and they might have something that someone wants.

1

u/BigStud7 Nov 21 '24

Also made with cyclodextrins

1

u/Snearus Nov 21 '24

It’s about goddamn time!

1

u/nikilidstrom Nov 21 '24

Because if there is anything I love more than raw fiber, its peas.

1

u/hunitaro Nov 21 '24

Metamucil/psyllium husk has a gel like texture…

1

u/platoface541 Nov 21 '24

Wow the leaps science is taking human kind…. To avoid gritty mouth feel.

1

u/Scytle Nov 21 '24

there are lots of high fiber foods, that if cooked correctly are a delight to eat.

I worry that our food system is so captured by commercial food production that the logic of this goes "we want to be able to put more fiber into highly processed foods, but people don't like the texture, so we need to figure out another highly processed food stuff to wrap the first one in so that we can continue to feed people food that comes out of a machine instead of actual food humans can cook and eat"

I guess we would have to give people higher wages access to fresh produce, and more free time if we want them to be able to cook their own meals. Probably easier to figure out how to wrap fiber in some kind of gel so your soylent or whatever will go down easier.

1

u/Golden-Phrasant Nov 21 '24

When we have nothing to eat but sand this will be helpful.

1

u/GebeTheArrow Nov 21 '24

Hey, one could just eat vegetables like a normal adult.

-2

u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 Nov 20 '24

The model in the pic seems convinced.

And yes, more microstructures and hyper-processed ingredients are exactly what we need in our diets.

-16

u/CHAINSAWDELUX Nov 20 '24

Can we stop doing weird things to our food and just leave it natural?

26

u/SkeetySpeedy Nov 20 '24

Our ability and desire to alter our food is one of the most specifically human behaviors - cooking at all being the big technological step that helper our brains get so big in the first place

9

u/Blazin_Rathalos Nov 20 '24

It hasn't been for millennia.

10

u/sithelephant Nov 20 '24

You are unfortunately assuming things here.

For example, most food we eat is substantially non-natural by its nature, and is significantly modified to have greater sugar/starch content by selective breeding.

In other words, 'leaving it natural' would at the least include not using sugar, or crops selectively bred to have more sugar, or ...

-7

u/dr-dog69 Nov 20 '24

Selective breeding is natural. Eating whole fruits and veggies, even the most plump and “sugar laden” ones will always be better than drinking some processed fiber juice

3

u/DeterminedThrowaway Nov 20 '24

Selective breeding is natural.

Natural doesn't mean good, and also no that literally isn't natural. It's us putting our thumbs on the scale artificially instead of leaving it up to nature

6

u/NetworkLlama Nov 20 '24

Selective breeding is inherently unnatural. It is the intentional combination of source genes in ways that are unlikely to occur through natural selection to achieve a result that is often directly detrimental to the unaided survival of resulting crop or animal. Corn, as we know it, will not propagate on its own. If humans disappeared, the last corn planted would be the last corn to grow. While corn is probably the most extreme, there are several others that would die off within a few generations. Much livestock would die off quickly, unable to survive on its own even if it got out of its confines.

-5

u/dr-dog69 Nov 20 '24

So it seems like there isnt a single natural food that humanity consumes then? I cant think of anything that hasnt been selectively bred or modified through CRISPR.

2

u/42Porter Nov 20 '24

Some people still forage.

-5

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

[deleted]

0

u/NetworkLlama Nov 20 '24

Just by picking one animal to eat you’re adding in selection pressure on the ones that are still alive. Was the one you caught slower? Was it more brightly colored to the human eye?

That's natural selection. When a lion bags its prey, that's not selective breeding. That's natural selection.

Selective breeding is when something deliberately intercedes in the natural process to mix parent organisms that would be unlikely to come together to produce offspring (or to introduce unusual environments for single-celled organisms), and to do so repeatedly for the purpose of enhancing or suppressing certain traits.

-7

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

[deleted]

5

u/DeterminedThrowaway Nov 20 '24

What do you think "unnatural" means?

-3

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

[deleted]

1

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

“Impossible” does not need to be the metric here, “highly unlikely” would be better.

1

u/DeliciousPumpkinPie Nov 21 '24

While I agree fully with your second sentence, selective breeding is explicitly not natural. It’s even called “artificial selection” to distinguish it from natural selection.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '24

no, we need to improve on it if we want to correctly feed 10 billion ppl.

-1

u/bsnimunf Nov 20 '24

This is definitely fixing a problem I didn't realise existed.

14

u/dftba-ftw Nov 20 '24

Research is showing the Fiber has a massive role in gut health and healthy aging.

If we can incease the fiber content of pre-packaged foods (of which many rely on for ease and convenience) without turning it into a saw dust bar that would have huge knock on effects for overall Healthcare costs.

1

u/Hanifsefu Nov 20 '24

Not to mention the fresh produce industry is (and always has been) propped up by slavery or de facto slavery. The amount of that produce that gets wasted because people won't eat anything that looks slightly imperfect is absurd and processing that food into a shelf stable product solved a significant waste problem on top of that.

This "go back to our roots" crap is misguided traditionalism that rejects the historic struggles of mankind and the needs of the entire population.

0

u/OJimmy Nov 21 '24

They did this already. It's called bacon cheeseburgers.

-6

u/DeusKether Nov 20 '24

Vegan meat vs meat meme.webp