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Arizona could join states in stand against cultivated meat

January 11, 2024 - from the FoodDive:

• "Arizona has proposed legislation that would make it illegal to “misrepresent” a product as meat. The bill, drafted by state Rep. Quang Nguyen, a Republican and public safety chair, targets the sale of cultivated meat.
• "The bill seeks to prohibit the labeling of any products as “meat” that are not derived from livestock or poultry and instead were produced in a laboratory from cultured animal cells.
• "This marks the latest pushback from lawmakers against the budding industry, as the traditional meat sector and some consumers raise concerns over its safety."

"The proposed Arizona bill would also apply to any “synthetic product derived from a plant, insect or other source,” said Nguyen.

"The lawmaker told Capital Media Services that the bill is more about transparency and disclosure within the industry and less about blocking the offering and purchasing of such products.

"Protection of Arizona’s cattle ranchers was also top of mind in regard to the drafting of the bill, as state Rep. David Marshall, a Republican from Arizona, wants to take the legislation a step further by allowing business owners “adversely affected” by the sale of lab-grown meats to sue to stop the practice and be able to collect damages of up to $100,000.

"Florida has also proposed legislation that would criminalize the sale and distribution of cultivated meat, both to protect the cattle and farming industries. State Rep. Tyler Sirois has reportedly said he hopes the Sunshine State is the first to ban lab-grown meat altogether.

"Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in May 2023 requiring clear labeling of analogs of meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, as well as cultivated meat, which requires the products to clearly state they were made through cell cultivation.

"In November 2023, a Nebraska senator reintroduced the Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully Act, which would make alternative protein companies clearly display “imitation” on their packaging.

"Since its grand entrance to the U.S. market per full approval from the USDA last year, cultivated meat has run into challenges from all angles.

"Consumer acceptance remains a steep hurdle to jump while production costs keep the space from offering competitive prices to traditional meat products.

"The Good Food Institute as well as early players in the space like Upside Foods and Eat Just have taken their stance that any prohibitions are a violation of their first amendment rights.

"'Everyone should play by the same rules,' said GFI in a statement, 'we actively oppose laws that unfairly restrict the use of standard meat and dairy terms on plant-based meat, plant-based milk, and other alternative protein labels.'"