Florida became the first state to ban lab-grown meat, with the law taking effect Monday. Anyone caught selling or distributing cultivated meat faces up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Alabama recently passed a similar ban that starts in October. Tampa Senator Jay Collins backed the bill during the 2024 legislative session, citing safety concerns about the new food technology.
Cultivated meat comes from animal cells grown directly without raising animals for food. The USDA had approved two companies to sell these products nationally just last year. One company, Upside Foods, held a special tasting event in Miami right before the ban began. Chef Mika Leon prepared chicken dishes using their lab-grown meat for Florida residents who wanted to try it before it became illegal.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill on May 1, claiming the technology had an agenda against traditional agriculture. GOOD Meat, another approved company, criticized Florida for limiting consumer choices and hurting American leadership in food innovation. The company argued that lawmakers presented no real safety concerns about the products. Italy became the first country worldwide to ban cultivated meat production and sales last November.
Cultivated meat comes from animal cells grown directly without raising animals for food. The USDA had approved two companies to sell these products nationally just last year. One company, Upside Foods, held a special tasting event in Miami right before the ban began. Chef Mika Leon prepared chicken dishes using their lab-grown meat for Florida residents who wanted to try it before it became illegal.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill on May 1, claiming the technology had an agenda against traditional agriculture. GOOD Meat, another approved company, criticized Florida for limiting consumer choices and hurting American leadership in food innovation. The company argued that lawmakers presented no real safety concerns about the products. Italy became the first country worldwide to ban cultivated meat production and sales last November.
