The ‘Fake Meat’ Debate Continues

“Fake Meat”, “Lab Meat”, “Cultivated Meat”—whatever you want to call it, it’s out there. But, the question now is—it isn’t banned, what do you call it if it ever does make it to your grocery store?

Jack Hubbard, who is the Executive Director of the Center for the Environment and Welfare, pointed out the issue falls across both aisles of the political spectrum

“Different states have taken different approaches. Florida and Alabama have outright banned it. I think it’s of note that after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) banned lab-grown meat in the state, Sen. John Federman (D-PA), who really doesn’t align politically at all with DeSantis, came out and applauded him and said that this is the one thing the two of them would agree on-that we shouldn’t be feeding people lab-grown meat,” he said. “So, this truly is a bipartisan issue. It tends to get the attention of both Republicans and Democrats, especially people from agriculture states.”

He said full bans are not the only option, but precise labeling is important.

“The lab-grown industry wants it to be labeled as cultivated, which pulls better with consumers, and I think is inherently confusing. Whereas we and other groups believe that lab-grown meat is the real literal definition that ought to be on packages,” Hubbard said. “So, there’s a fight going on in many state houses about what you call this stuff and how you label it. And frankly, the language we use and adopt around this new novel sector will probably dictate its success, or lack thereof, with consumers.”