Miami, Fl (DMN) – A manufacturer of cultured meat has filed a lawsuit challenging a recently passed Florida law that prohibits the sale of their product. The company argues that these restrictions unfairly favor Florida farmers over competitors from other states, which they believe is unconstitutional.
“If some Floridians don’t like the idea of eating cultivated chicken, there’s a simple solution: Don’t eat it,” said Paul Sherman. He is an attorney at the Institute for Justice which is one of the groups that filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
In June of 2023, U.S. regulators approved the sale of a type of meat referred to as “cell-cultured” or “cell-cultivated.” Sellers claim that the product offers a morally conscious and environmentally friendly option compared to traditionally raised chicken, beef, and pork.
However, lawmakers in Florida and Alabama have expressed concerns about cultivated meat and have implemented bans on its sale. This innovative product is created using animal cells that are nourished with a combination of proteins, vitamins, and water, and then transformed into delectable nuggets, sausages, and steaks.
When questioned about the lawsuit, a representative for Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to his previous statements in May. These statements were made during the signing of the state’s cultivated meat ban, with cattle farmers standing by his side.
“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.”
Upside Foods, the manufacturer involved in the legal dispute, hosted a tasting event in Miami prior to the implementation of the ban. At the event, guests were treated to delicious cultivated chicken tostadas topped with avocado, chipotle crema, and beet sprouts.
“This is delicious meat,” Upside Foods CEO and founder Uma Valeti said. “And we just fundamentally believe that people should have a choice to choose what they want to put on their plate.”
Valeti emphasized that the meat his company produces is not sourced from a lab, but rather from a facility that resembles a brewery or a dairy processing plant.
Source: Fox-13 News