Last week, the state of Alabama passed a bill making them the second state in the U.S. to ban the sale of cultivated meat products. Alabama’s ban follows Florida’s legal precedent earlier this month.
Governor Kay Ivey has signed SB23 into law, making the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products produced from cultured animal cells a Class C misdemeanor starting October 1st, 2024. Civil penalties could range from $100 for a Class 2 violation up to $10,000 for a Class 5 violation for food establishments that violate the bill.
“We greatly appreciate Sen. Williams and Rep. Crawford for working to protect consumers in Alabama,” Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley said. “Cattlemen work hard every day to raise cattle and produce high-quality beef. The tireless efforts of Sen. Williams and Rep. Crawford this session will ensure Alabamians continue to purchase safe, wholesome, real beef.”
While lab-grown meat has yet to hit grocery shelves, two companies (UPSIDE Foods and Eat Just) were approved to sell products in the U.S.
"Legislation that bans cultivated meat is a reckless move that ignores food safety experts and science, stifles consumer choice, and hinders American innovation," Sean Edgett, chief legal officer of Upside Foods, said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. "Major meat companies have invested in cultivated meat to enhance supply chain resilience and meet rising global demand for meat. We should be embracing innovation for a better food future."
In response to the Alabama and Florida bans, Upside started a change.org petition urging consumers to tell politicians “to stop policing” their dinner plates.
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