The event of Coldiretti in Parma, in front of the headquarters of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and above all its request to regulate meat cultivated as a drug instead of a food did not like the independent scientific community
The initiative of direct farmers to propose the regulation of cultivated meat is very discussing the initiative like the drugs.
At the event of the last few days in front of the EFSA headquarters, the European Food Safety Agency, in Parma, in fact, Coldiretti made an explicit (and particular) request: that they come Clinical and preclinical medical studies carried out Before authorizing cellular foods or products derived from precision fermentation, both for the new foods and for those placed on the market before 1 February 2025, the date on which the new Fsa guidelines entered into force. And not only that: among other things, more rigorous rules were also invoked for the approval of the novel Foods.
In short, by Coldiretti, it was emphasized that the event aimed to protect “everyone’s health, in particular that of future generations”, By making requests for precise regulations for ultra -formula and for those for those laboratory products, which should be treated as drugs. In addition, any proposal has been rejected to introduce alarmistic labels or wine taxes, which is considered a key element of the Mediterranean diet and a responsible consumption symbol.
Coldiretti’s goal is that the cultivated meat – whose production and sale were prohibited in Italy in 2023, a victory greeted by the organization – is subjected to the same rigorous procedures envisaged for the authorization of drugs.
Efsa replied to the event, meeting some representatives of Coldiretti. In a declaration, he said that the request made by the organization of clarifying is aligned with the objectives of the Agency, reiterating that in the evaluation of the safety of the new foods, even those entered before 1 February 2025, the EFSA always applies the most high scientific standards.
The response of the scientific community to Coldiretti
The reaction of the scientific world was not long in coming: Coldiretti’s requests were contested in a declaration of 16 scientists, whose first signatory is Alessandro Berteroprofessor of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science of the University of Turin.
We report:
The event of Coldiretti in Parma, in front of the headquarters of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), with the request to regulate the meat grown Like a drug rather than a food it represents A worrying attempt to delegitimize the work of the independent scientific community and the European regulatory framework on new foodsamong the most rigorous in the world.
Forgetting that EFSA is already a technical and independent body, Coldiretti invokes “more free and independent science” and supports the need for clinical and preclinical studies for the meat grownas is the case for drugs. This request echoes the conclusions of an interministerial technical table of the health and agriculture ministries, where, however, details on the methods adopted, the arguments and studies in support of this need, are not included in the official document.
In light of the existing scientific literature and the research that we have already conducted, we feel we can say that the current regulatory framework does not present critical issues and that the request for clinical and preclinical studies has no scientific basis. Drugs and foods follow distinct approval processes because they respond to radically different needs. Paradoxically, food regulation is marked by greater safety. Just think that a drug can be authorized even in the presence of well -known side effects, while EFSA can approve only in the absence of health risks.
As researchers and researchers engaged in the study of meat grown In Italy and Europe, we ask that the work of the scientific community and competent institutions be recognized and protected. We want to contribute to the debate also in our country, and therefore we ask the Lollobrigida ministers and Schillaci the opportunity to participate in the comparison. The common interest is to guarantee the possibility of working so that the decisions and institutional assessments to protect the population is always based on the most solid scientific evidence.
Signatories:
- Alessandro Bertero, associated professor in Applied Biology, University of Turin
- Diana Massai, professor associated with bioengineering, Polytechnic of Turin
- Daniele Marchisio, full professor in chemical engineering, Polytechnic of Turin
- Laura Cavallarin, research manager, institute of food sciences, CNR
- Nike Schiavo, president of Agriculture Cell Phone Italia APS
- Stefano AM Biressi, associate professor of molecular biology, University of Trento
- Luca Lo Sapio, associate professor of moral philosophy, University of Turin
- Bruna Anzà, Doctoranda in Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic of Turin
- Stefano Lattanzi, CEO of Bruno Cell Srl
- Cesare Gargioli, Associate Professor in Applied Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata
- Simona Stano, Associated Professor of Semiotics, University of Turin
- Luciano Conti, associate professor in applied biology, University of Trento
- Barbara Loora, associated professor of psychometry, University of Turin
- Francesca Tiziana Cannizzo, ordinary professor of General Pathology, University of Turin
- Bartolomeo Biolatti, full professor of general pathology and veterinary pathological anatomy
- Michele Antonio Fino, full professor of Roman law and foundations of European law, University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo
