Marian L. Tupy tweeted (X-ed?) an amazing video of Israeli company Steakholder Foods printing meat. According to the Steakholder representative in the video, the 3D printer is capable of producing tons of meat cultivated from fat and muscle cells per day — no grass-chewing, mooing quadrupeds required.

The fact that a steak can be prepared sans a flesh-and-blood cow is nothing less than incredible. That said, some of the firm’s claims are not quite true — i.e., false.

The representative’s claim that the printer produces meat with “no land, no water, no carbon footprint, [and] no emissions” cannot be true, strictly speaking.

The warehouse in which the printer sits takes up space. So at least some land is occupied.

The printer synthesizes organic tissue. Considering that animal cells are 70 percent water by mass, it seems doubtful that no water is consumed in the process.

The printer is powered by electricity. Unless it’s running entirely on nuclear, wind, solar, or hydro power, surely some carbon is being emitted by a generator somewhere.

Such claims are not only false but rooted in uneconomic thinking; making marginal improvements in land use, water consumption, and carbon emissions in the production of meat — if done so in a cost-effective manner — is an achievement to be proud of. But Steakholder Foods should not overplay its hand, and we should not misconstrue its accomplishments.

As an aside, watching the video reminded me of this scene from SpongeBob SquarePants in which the Krusty Krab is taken over by Krabby O’Monday’s and prints Krabby Patties from synthetic goop.

Carbon emissions or not, Steakholder Foods will never replace my USDA prime ribeye. Come and take it.