On Wednesday, May 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., signed a bill outlawing the manufacturing and distribution of lab-grown meat, making Florida the first state to ban it. Despite the product not being available in stores yet, other states are following suit.
“Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere,” DeSantis declared. “We’re not doing that in the state of Florida.”
Lab-grown meat is a meat alternative made from animal stem cells, cultivated in a laboratory environment to mimic the taste and texture of conventional meat. Despite its potential benefits — including reduced environmental impact — lab-grown meat faces skepticism.
Jeff Bezos recently relocated to Florida and invested millions of dollars in lab-grown meat development, echoing the sentiments of the World Economic Forum, which sees it as the future of food.
While some believe lab-grown meat could revolutionize the food industry, others — like DeSantis — argue it threatens traditional agriculture. Similar debates are brewing in other states like Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee, where bills banning lab-grown meat are under consideration.
In addition to critics, lab-grown meat still faces challenges, including its taste, safety and affordability. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe to eat, some critics remain unconvinced.
As for availability, lab-grown meat is not yet on supermarket shelves in the U.S., with production limited to select restaurants.
