William Fraser (Letters, April 8) pointed out that "fruitarians are generally those who have evolved through vegetarianism and veganism to a stage where they not only practise harmlessness to all animal life but also abstain from vegetable produce which involves the destruction of a plant and in turn insect life".

This is laudable but unrealistic as an aspiration for the majority of the population.

Scientists at Nasa have found a way to "culture" meat and fish, which could put an end to the slaughter of animals for human consumption. For those people who like the taste of meat but are concerned about the way animals are treated and killed, this experiment is worth pursuing. The food is made by taking samples of flesh from living animal "donors" and culturing them in a similar way to growing artificial skin.

Scientists involved in the tests realise the public might be reluctant to eat food grown in foetal bovine serum, particularly because of fears about vCJD. The team therefore hopes to find a substitute - unless someone else can do so first.

-David Hammond, North Court, Hassocks