Lab-grown meat producers push back against Florida ban

Earlier this year, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill banning the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products in the Sunshine State that are made from cultured animal cells.

This week, Upside Foods, one of the few commercial lab-grown meat producers, sued the state of Florida over the ban signed in May. The Institute for Justice, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, says the law violates the Constitution’s provision prohibiting protectionist measures designed to favor in-state businesses at the expense of out-of-state competitors. Upside Foods’ products are created in Berkley, California. 

When asked for comment on the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Gov. DeSantis pointed to statements made in May at the bill signing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida: “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. Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere.”

For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.

contact: miller@iowapbs.org