TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A manufacturer of “lab-grown” meat has filed a lawsuit challenging a newly enacted Florida law that bans the sale of the product, arguing the restrictions give an unconstitutional advantage to Florida farmers over out-of-state competitors.
“If some Floridians don’t like the idea of eating cultivated chicken, there’s a simple solution: Don’t eat it,” said Paul Sherman, an attorney at the Institute for Justice, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. regulators first signed off on the sale of what’s known as “cell-cultured” or “cell-cultivated” meat in June of 2023. Sellers say the product is a more ethical and sustainable alternative to conventionally raised chicken, beef and pork.
But lawmakers in Florida and Alabama have called cultivated meat a threat to their states’ agriculture industries and banned the sale of the product, which is made of animal cells that are fed a mix of proteins, vitamins and water and then formed into nuggets, sausages and steaks.
Asked for comment on the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis pointed to statements he made in May when he signed the state’s cultivated meat ban into law, flanked by cattle farmers.
“We stand with agriculture, we stand with the cattle ranchers, we stand with our farmers because we understand it’s important for the backbone of the state,” DeSantis said. “Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere.”
Upside Foods, the manufacturer behind the lawsuit, held a tasting party in Miami before the ban went into effect, plying guests with cultivated chicken tostadas garnished with avocado, chipotle crema and beet sprouts.
“This is delicious meat,” Upside Foods CEO and founder Uma Valeti said. “And we just fundamentally believe that people should have a choice to choose what they want to put on their plate.”
Valeti also noted that the meat his company produces is not coming from a lab but from a facility more closely resembling a brewery or a dairy processing plant.
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Lab-grown meat, also known as cultured or synthetic meat, has been a hot topic in the food industry in recent years. This innovative technology involves growing meat from animal cells in a lab setting, offering a more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional animal agriculture. However, despite its potential benefits, lab-grown meat has faced pushback from some lawmakers and traditional meat producers.
One company at the forefront of the lab-grown meat industry is Memphis Meats, a California-based startup that has been developing cultured meat products since 2015. Memphis Meats has garnered attention for its groundbreaking work in creating lab-grown beef, chicken, and duck, with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of meat production and improving animal welfare.
Recently, Memphis Meats found itself at odds with the state of Florida, which passed a law banning the sale of lab-grown meat products. The company has taken legal action against the ban, arguing that it is unconstitutional and unfairly targets their innovative products.
In a statement released by Memphis Meats, CEO Uma Valeti expressed disappointment in Florida’s decision to ban lab-grown meat, stating that the company’s products have the potential to revolutionize the food industry and address pressing issues such as climate change and animal cruelty. Valeti emphasized that lab-grown meat is produced in a controlled environment without the need for antibiotics or hormones, making it a safer and more sustainable option for consumers.
The legal battle between Memphis Meats and Florida highlights the challenges faced by companies working to bring lab-grown meat to market. While some see cultured meat as a promising solution to the environmental and ethical problems associated with traditional meat production, others view it as a threat to the established meat industry.
Despite these challenges, Memphis Meats remains committed to advancing the field of cultured meat and bringing their products to consumers around the world. The company has received support from investors and industry partners who believe in the potential of lab-grown meat to transform the way we think about food.
As the legal battle unfolds, it is clear that the future of lab-grown meat is still uncertain. However, companies like Memphis Meats are determined to continue their work and push for greater acceptance and regulation of cultured meat products. Only time will tell if lab-grown meat will become a mainstream option for consumers, but one thing is certain – the conversation around the future of food is far from over.
