After Florida’s recent ban on the sale of lab-grown meat, Texas is at a crossroads and is thinking about whether to do the same.
As previously mentioned by The Dallas Express, two food production companies, UPSIDE Foods and Good Meats, were given federal approval to produce and sell lab-grown chicken products in California last year. They were among more than 150 companies worldwide developing cultured versions of various types of meat, such as chicken, pork, lamb, and beef.
Even though there are some issues with making it on a larger scale, the companies behind such products have praised them as being more ethical, environmentally friendly, and nutritious.
“Cultivated chicken meat] has fewer calories and lower fat than an average piece of conventionally-produced chicken,” said UPSIDE Foods’ senior communications associate Brooke Whitney, according to Very Well Health.
In response to the growth of lab-grown meat, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law SB 1084 on May 1, effectively banning the sale of “cultivated meat,” which was defined as “any meat or food product produced from cultured animal cells.” The bill imposes penalties for breaking the ban and limits activities related to the manufacturing, distribution, and storage of lab-grown meat, with exceptions for research purposes.
DeSantis stressed the importance of giving more importance to traditional farming and ranching practices over what he referred to as “petri dish meat.”
“Global elites want to control our behavior and promote a diet of petri dish meat and bugs to Americans. Florida is saying no. I was proud to sign SB 1084 to keep lab-grown meat out of Florida and prioritize our farmers and ranchers over the agenda of elites and the World Economic Forum,” DeSantis said via X.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller echoed the sentiment, expressing his support for Florida’s move and advocating for a similar ban in the Lone Star State.
“I commend Governor DeSantis for signing that bill. It’s something that hopefully will start a trend. Maybe we can possibly get that through the Texas Legislature, I’d certainly be in favor of that,” Miller told the Texas Scorecard.
Miller, a staunch supporter of traditionally raised beef and chicken, questioned the appeal of lab-grown substitutes, further emphasizing Texas’ abundant cattle supply. He stressed that lab-grown meat does not align with what he termed “cowboy logic,” suggesting that the public’s interest in such products is minimal.
Sen. Charles Perry (R-San Angelo) authored a law requiring clear labeling of cell-cultured products in Texas that was enacted last year. SB 664 ensures that consumers are aware when products are lab-grown yet does not prohibit the availability of lab-grown meat products to the public.
A statewide survey conducted in 2020 by TFB and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association found that 1 in 5 Texans were confused by the packaging of meat substitute food products, finding them often indistinguishable from traditional ones.
“Texas Farm Bureau is thankful for the Texas Legislature and its work this session on the issue of misleading labeling of food products. Our organization appreciates the leadership of Sen. Perry and State Rep. Brad Buckley in addressing this important topic,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening.
However, produced meat products might also help ease the global food shortage and the negative effects linked to large-scale farming practices nationwide. As previously stated by The Dallas Express, EPIC/UPSIDE Foods made 50,000 pounds of produced meat each year by 2022, and they have the potential to increase production to 400,000 pounds.
In comparison, a standard chicken processing plant produces more than 37 million pounds of chicken every year. Considering that the average American eats over 80 pounds of chicken annually, the UPSIDE Foods facility could potentially provide food for 5,000 people every year in the United States.
Alan Engel, a former barbecue champion, previously stated to The Dallas Express, “I don’t see [produced meat] being a threat to the industry yet, but as time goes on, a lot of the traditional ranchers are going by the wayside, and newer generations won’t be [raising cattle], which may make way in the industry,”
According to the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), U.S. and Texas cattle herds have hit record lows recently. Nationwide, there were 87.2 million heads of cattle, down 2% from last year. Among 34 states with declining numbers, Texas saw its count drop to 12 million from 12.5 million, exhibiting another year-over-year loss seen in recent trends.
