Federal lawsuit against Florida ban on 'lab-grown' meat still alive
after judge's ruling
[April 26, 2025]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A lawsuit against Florida's ban on
“lab-grown” meat is still alive after a federal judge tossed four parts
of the suit on Friday but kept a fifth.
Northern District of Florida Chief Judge Mark Walker declined to dismiss
a part of the lawsuit that argued Florida's restrictions give an
unconstitutional advantage to Florida farmers over out-of-state
competitors. Meanwhile, the judge sided with state attorneys seeking to
dismiss the lawsuit and their argument that federal approval of
cultivated chicken doesn't mean individual states can't ban it.
U.S. regulators first signed off on the sale of what’s known as
“cell-cultured” or “cell-cultivated” meat in June 2023. The lawsuit had
argued that Florida’s law is preempted under federal laws that regulate
the interstate market for meat and poultry products. Sellers say the
product is a more ethical and sustainable alternative to conventionally
raised chicken, beef and pork.
But lawmakers in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi have called cultivated
meat a threat to their states’ agriculture industries and banned the
sale of the product, which is made of animal cells that are fed a mix of
proteins, vitamins and water and then formed into nuggets, sausages and
steaks.
The lawsuit was filed last year by Upside Foods, represented by the
nonprofit law firm the Institute for Justice.
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 “Upside is not looking to replace
conventional meat, which will always have a place at the table,”
Upside CEO Uma Valeti said in a statement. "All we are asking for is
the right to compete, so that Floridians can try our product and see
that it is possible to have delicious meat without the need for
slaughtering animals. Today’s ruling is an important step toward
securing that right.”
The governor's office and the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services didn't immediately respond to emails seeking
comment about the lawsuit.
Gov. Ron DeSantis was flanked by cattle farmers last May when he
signed the state’s cultivated meat ban into law.
“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,” DeSantis said. “Take your fake lab-grown
meat elsewhere.”
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