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You and I, gentlemen, come from a long line of carnivores. I see from your expressions that most of you don't recognise the term."
This short story was written by Arthur C. Clarke and was first published in, of all places, Playboy (May 1964). Maybe some people did just read it for the articles...
The story is told by the owner of a food synthesis company, who is reporting to a panel of judges and senators. He explains how, generations ago, scientists solved the world hunger problem by creating an "omniverter" that could turn various elements - hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen etc. - into any type of food. Animal farming was given up and humans switched to a diet of synthesised meat and genuine vegetables.
Since that time, food synthesis companies have created new types of meat from a basic stock of textures, flavours etc. But recently, "Triplanetary Food" have created a new meat, "Ambrosia Plus", that cannot be identified as being made from any combination of the qualities of other meats...
"When I began my evidence, I used the archaic word "carnivore". Now I must introduce you another: I'll spell it out the first time: C-A-N-N-I-B-A-L...
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