As the cultivated meat industry grows, several states are passing legislation to prohibit the production and sale of lab-grown meat, citing concerns about safety, labeling, and the economic impact on traditional agriculture.
Florida became the first state to prohibit the production and sale of cultivated meat with legislation signed into law on May 1, 2024. Violations are considered misdemeanors, and establishments face license suspension if convicted.
Following suit, Alabama passed a similar ban on May 7, 2024, making it illegal to produce or distribute cultivated food products in the state.
Mississippi joined the trend, with the House passing a bill in March 2025 prohibiting lab-grown meat activities. The bill needs the governor’s signature to become law.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has proposed a ban on lab-grown meat to protect traditional meat producers. However, ranchers and farm groups oppose the proposal, arguing that clear labeling is preferable to outright prohibition.
Similarly, Michigan lawmakers introduced legislation to regulate the labeling of lab-grown meat products, with the goal of ensuring consumer transparency and farmer fairness.
The push to ban lab-grown meat reflects a complex interplay of innovation, regulation, and tradition in the United States food industry. As cultivated meat becomes more commercially viable, the debate over its place in the market intensifies.
National Agricultural Law Center, (2024). Cell-Cultured Meat Updates: State Bans, Labeling Requirements, and Regulation Clarifications. Retrieved from https://nationalaglawcenter.org/cell-cultured-meat-updates-state-bans-labeling-requirements-and-regulation-clarifications/
Associated Press. (2025; February 15). Ranchers and farm groups oppose a proposal to ban lab-grown meat in Nebraska. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/f897a369dfa4f84235c9aae33cf1712.
Wired (2025, March 10). Mississippi passes legislation banning lab-grown meat. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/mississippi-bans-lab-grown-meat.
Big Rapids news. (2025; February 28). Michigan bills seek to regulate the labeling of lab-grown meat products. Retrieved from https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Michigan-lab-grown-meat-regulation-20168388.php.
