Alabama has followed Florida in banning the sale and production of cultivated meat, a technology that grows meat from animal cells without raising or slaughtering animals.
Governor Kay Ivey signed the SB23 bill into law, classifying violations as a class C misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of three months in jail and a $500 fine. The bill, introduced by Senator Jack Williams and carried by State Representative Danny Crawford, aims to ensure transparency in food production and protect traditional livestock farming.
Senator Williams emphasized that Alabamians prefer natural meat, labeling lab-grown meat untested and unsafe. He echoed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis'sDeSantis's sentiment: "Take your fake meat elsewhere." However, the bill does allow higher education institutions and government departments to research cultivated meat.
Despite California's UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat's approvals for cultivated chicken, which have shown that sustainable and safe meat production is achievable, other states, such as Arizona, Wisconsin, Texas, Nebraska, and Tennessee, are also considering similar bans.
Cultivated meat companies express deep disappointment over these bans, arguing they limit consumer choice and overlook the benefits of cultivated meat in addressing environmental, health, and animal welfare issues. With 43 companies in the US developing cell-based products and attracting significant global investment, the FDA and USDA anticipate new applications for cultivated animal cell products.
UPSIDE Foods has launched a petition on Change.org, urging lawmakers to respect Alabamians'Alabamians' right to choose their food. They argue that these laws do not protect consumers but serve entrenched interests, contradicting free market principles and limiting consumer autonomy for products deemed safe by food safety experts at USDA and FDA. Another petition seeks to overturn Florida's Florida ban, advocating for consumer choice in food options.
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