(The Center Square)–Texas will become the seventh state to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat in September.
Florida was the first, followed by Alabama last year. This year, five more states, including Texas, followed.
They did so after the Trump administration took the opposite approach. In 2019, the first Trump administration was the first in U.S. history to begin the process to authorize lab-grown chicken, seafood and beef in the U.S.
In 2023, under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. became the second country in the world to approve the production and sale of lab-grown meat.
Recognizing the importance of the Texas cattle industry and health concerns expressed by Texans, state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, filed SB 261 to ban the sale of lab-grown meat in Texas. The bill, which includes civil and criminal penalties, received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last month. It becomes effective Sept. 1.
“The introduction of lab-grown meat could disrupt traditional livestock markets, affecting rural economies and family farms,” Perry’s bill analysis states. “There are concerns over transparency in labeling, risk of contamination, and the long-term health impacts of consuming cell-cultured products.” The measure prohibits the production and sale of cell-cultured protein products in Texas “to protect consumers and support traditional agriculture.”
“Cell-cultured protein is made by harvesting animal cells and growing them in a bioreactor to produce tissue-based food products,” the analysis explains.
Earlier this year, the Texas legislature passed a resolution officially recognizing a “State Steak of Texas,” highlighting Texas as “the birthplace of many iconic culinary traditions, including those tied to cattle drives, chuck wagons, and steak houses, all of which have cemented steak as an integral part of the state’s culture and cuisine,” The Center Square reported.
Texas remains the undisputable leader with the most beef cattle in the U.S., representing nearly 15% of the national beef market, The Center Square reported. Texas cattle, including beef and dairy, are Texas’ top agricultural commodity, representing $15.5 billion in market value in 2022, according to state agriculture data.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first governor in the country to sign a lab-grown meat ban last year in an effort to protect the state’s cattle and agricultural industry. Alabama wasn’t far behind.
This year, five more states followed. In February, South Dakota’s governor signed its ban into law. In March, Mississippi’s ban was approved. In May, Nebraska’s ban was signed into law. In July, Indiana implemented a two-year ban on lab-grown meat.
Georgia attempted to implement a ban this year, HB 201, which went nowhere this legislative session. Arizona passed a bill this year, HB 2739, requiring labeling on all cell-grown products.
State legislative action was taken after the first Trump administration’s departments of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. The regulatory framework directed the FDA to oversee “cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation.”
By 2023, the Biden administration continued the Trump administration’s work. Its FDA and USDA approved California-based Upside Foods and Good Meat to sell cell-based chicken products, which are currently being sold in restaurants nationwide.
Upside Foods sued Florida last year arguing its ban is unconstitutional. A federal judge allowed the lawsuit to go forward this April. It remains unclear if the California company or others like it will sue the seven states that have so far implemented bans.
Last month, the second Trump administration continued the efforts it began in 2019 when the FDA and USDA approved a San Francisco-based cell-based seafood company Wildtype to market its products that are currently being served in restaurants. It was approved after agri-giant Cargill and partners invested more than $100 million to launch an “alternative to salmon,” Just Food reported.
Although the U.S. began its process in 2019, Singapore was the first country in the world to officially authorize the production of lab-grown meat in 2020. The U.S. was the second in 2023.
Last year, Israel became the third after an Israeli company, Aleph Farms, received approval to sell lab-grown meat in Israel and the Middle East. Several European countries are also moving toward approving lab grown meat, according to several news reports.
Why One Survival Food Company Shines Above the Rest
Let’s be real. “Prepper Food” or “Survival Food” is generally awful. The vast majority of companies that push their cans, bags, or buckets desperately hope that their customers never try them and stick them in the closet or pantry instead. Why? Because if the first time they try them is after the crap hits the fan, they’ll be too shaken to call and complain about the quality.
It’s true. Most long-term storage food is made with the cheapest possible ingredients with limited taste and even less nutritional value. This is why they tout calories so much. Sure, they provide calories but does anyone really want to go into the apocalypse with food their family can’t stand?
This is what prompted the Llewellyns to launch Heaven’s Harvest. They bought survival food from multiple companies and determined they couldn’t imagine being stuck in an extended emergency with such low-quality food. They quickly discovered that freeze drying food for long-term storage doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, consistency, or nutrition.
Their ingredients are all-American. In fact, they’re locally sourced and all-natural! This allows their products to be the highest quality on the market, so good that their customers often break open a bag in a pinch to eat because they want to, not just because they have to due to an emergency.
At Heaven’s Harvest, their only focus is amazing food. They don’t sell bugout bags, solar chargers, or multitools. They have one mission – feeding Americans in times of crisis.
What they DO offer is the ability for people to thrive in times of greatest need. On top of long-term storage food, they offer seeds to help Americans for the truly long-term. They want them to grow their own food if possible which is why they offer only Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open-Pollinated seeds so their customers can build permanent food security on their own property.
Do the Trump administration LOVES FAKE MEAT and DeSantis has produced real laws to fight FAKE MEAT. Notice Israel also love sFAKE MEAT just like it loved the FAKE VACCINE.
You need to take a writing course if you want to comment. That hot mess of a word salad makes no sense.
https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Bans_Lab-Grown_Meat_in_Montana
From what I understand, the one component fake meat makers have desired to replicate is “heme”. It’s what makes beef taste like beef. It’s the root word of hemoglobin (or so I’ve been told). Apparently, Beyond Beef and Impossible Burger have been successful in this endeavor. The ingredients list for both is worth the read. Additionally, banning fake meat in a state where a major portion of their revenue is in real beef production only makes sense from an economic and way-of-life standpoint.
RFK-MAHA, my ass! Promises made, promises broken.
This is totally unfamiliar and untested science. NO way should we be allowed to eat it. It is unnatural and they don’t tell us how it mimics mother nature in a safe and healthy manner. What are we eating?
NO MORE ARTIFICIAL ANYTHING PLEASE!! Gates failure of fake meat company should heed well market rejection.. wake up Trump folks!! Stop this madman screwing with our air, climate, mosquitos, and injecting foreign proteins into our children!! Why are Soros, and Gates allowed to keep damaging America???