Federal lawsuit against Florida ban on ‘lab-grown’ meat still alive after judge’s ruling
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/04/2025 (529 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
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.
“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.”
