Montana and Indiana have joined a growing number of states banning “lab-grown” (aka, “cell-cultivated”) meat.
Cell-cultivated meat is developed in a lab, grown from a sample of animal cells that does not require the slaughter of animals. Developing cell-cultivated meat involves five steps: (1) taking a biopsy of animal cells, (2) cell banking, (3) cell growth, (4) harvesting, and (5) food processing.
Lab-grown meat has prompted concerns that it is harmful to both health and the environment.
On May 1, Republican Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB401, which bans the manufacture, sale and distribution of cultivated meat in the state.
On May 6, Republican Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1425, instituting a two-year moratorium on the production and sale of lab-grown meat in the state, beginning July 1, 2025. Cultivated meat is defined as animal protein grown from stem cells in a lab to replicate the look, taste, and nutrition of conventional meat.
After the moratorium, all cultivated meat products sold in Indiana will be required to display a label reading:
“This is an imitation meat product.”
The bill passed both state chambers with broad support, Indiana Ag Connection notes:
“Despite some debate around the labelling language, the bill passed with a strong majority—74-15 in the House and 43-7 in the Senate. It reflects rising caution among lawmakers as they respond to public concern and industry changes.”
Companies that fail to follow the rule are subject to fines of up to $10,000.
Currently, five states have bans on lab-grown meat:
- Florida,
- Alabama,
- Mississippi,
- Indiana, and
- Montana.
Nebraska recently moved a step closer to banning the imitation meat, as debate ended on legislation to ban lab-grown meat products.
Presently, a total of 10 states have regulations regarding cell-cultivated meat, Farm Progress reports:
“Some like Iowa, require the product to say they come from cultured cells. While others like Florida and Alabama have banned the products entirely.”
….
“Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen says real meat comes from real animals not a petri dish.”
If enacted, Nebraska’s bill would prohibit the production, sale, display, import, distribution or promotion of any lab-grown meat product.
“The lab-grown meat sector will continue to face headwinds as consumers and lawmakers learn more about the use of ‘immortalized cells’ and the lack of long-term nutritional and health studies around the product,” says Center for Environment and Welfare Executive Director Jack Hubbard:
“We are seeing a bipartisan consumer movement against the experimental product that we believe will ultimately intensify as more people learn about how lab-grown meat is manufactured.”