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Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat
Lab grown meat
UPSIDE Foods, a company that produces lab-grown meat, has filed a lawsuit against Florida's recently enacted ban on lab-grown meat. The case, brought before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, argues that the ban unjustly favors local businesses by discriminating against out-of-state producers.
Represented by the Institute for Justice (IJ), UPSIDE Foods claims the ban disrupts the national market by shielding local meat producers from external competition. IJ contends that the law does more to hinder innovation and limit consumer choices than to address legitimate safety issues.
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Paul Sherman, a senior attorney at IJ, criticized the law, stating, “If some residents in Florida prefer not to eat cultivated chicken, they can simply choose not to. The government should not prevent consumers from accessing new food options.”
Unlike vegan or vegetarian alternatives that use ingredients such as soy or vegetables to mimic meat, UPSIDE’s cultivated meat is made from real animal cells, designed to replicate the flavor of traditional meat without requiring animal slaughter. UPSIDE is one of only two companies in the U.S. authorized to market lab-grown meat.
The ban, signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on May 1 and effective from July 1, aims to protect Florida's agricultural sector, reflecting the governor’s concerns about the impact of lab-grown meat on local farmers and cattle ranchers. DeSantis has emphasized the significance of maintaining Florida's agricultural traditions and heritage.
In response to the lawsuit, DeSantis’s spokesperson reiterated the governor’s commitment to supporting local agriculture and traditional farming practices.
IJ attorneys have highlighted remarks made by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, who defended the ban as essential for safeguarding the state's agricultural industry.
IJ attorney Suranjan Sen compared the situation to a hypothetical ban on Florida orange juice in California, arguing that such protectionist measures are unconstitutional. “The Constitution was intended to prevent economic protectionism and maintain a free and open market. Florida cannot impose bans on legal products just to protect in-state businesses from competition,” Sen stated.
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