05 July 2018 - New Zealand MPs Criticise "Impossible Burger"
NZ First MP Mark Patterson criticises Air New Zealand over 'Impossible burger'
(New Zealand Herald, 04/07/2018)
Another New Zealand First MP has taken aim at Air New Zealand, this time for serving up synthetic meat burgers to passengers.
The party's primary industries spokesman Mark Patterson called the promotion of the "Impossible burger", which contains a plant-based meat substitute on some international flights a "slap in the face" for New Zealand's red meat sector.
Air New Zealand has teamed up with Silicon Valley start-up Impossible Foods to serve the burger to premium customers.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters bites over fake meat burger
Gia Garrick (Radio New Zealand, 04/07/2018)
Politicians have beef with Air New Zealand over its promotion of a meat substitute 'Impossible Burger.'
They claim the national carrier is cutting farmers' lunch, by promoting a product that has the potential to threaten New Zealand's $9 billion red-meat sector.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters said he would not eat a burger with lab-made meat, particularly if there's one with the real thing available.
Fake chews? New Zealand MP fears 'existential threat' of synthetic burgers
Eleanor Ainge Roy (The Guardian, 05/07/2018)
A veggie burger that “bleeds” fake blood has been accused of posing an “existential threat” to New Zealand’s beef industry, amid a growing row over synthetic meat.
The Impossible Burger, which is being served on the national carrier Air New Zealand, has drawn the ire of the acting prime minister Winston Peters, who has said he is “utterly opposed to fake beef,” and the airline should be using real animal products.
Air New Zealand, the country’s national carrier is offering the burger – made of synthetic meat from an American company – to business class passengers on flights from Los Angeles to Auckland.
Why MPs are wrong to criticise Air New Zealand's Impossible Burger
Winston Aldworth (New Zealand Herald, 04/07/2018)
Air New Zealand's introduction of vegetarian burgers has got the country's meat-eating advocates frothing at the mouth.
The airline is serving the "Impossible Burger", with a patty containing a plant-based meat substitute developed by a San Francisco company, on flights between Los Angeles and Auckland until late October. Hang on a minute, a "plant-based meat substitute"? Like as in no animals being killed, and vegans can eat it? What is this, 2018 or something?
New Zealand First's primary industries spokesman Mark Patterson called the burger a "slap in the face" for New Zealand's red-meat producers and National's gumboot-wearing Nathan Guy leapt on to Twitter to vent: "We produce the most delicious steaks & lamb on the planet — GMO & hormone free. The national carrier should be pushing our premium products and helping sell NZ to the world."