Tallahassee, Florida (Agencies): Upside Foods, a California-based lab-grown meat company backed by Bill Gates, has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida. The lawsuit challenges a new law that bans the sale and manufacture of lab-grown meat, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and unfairly favors in-state agricultural businesses over out-of-state competitors.
The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May, prohibits the sale of “cultivated” meat products, which are made from animal cells grown in a controlled environment. DeSantis, flanked by cattle farmers during the signing, stated that the ban was necessary to protect Florida’s traditional agriculture industry.
Upside Foods contends that the ban restricts consumer choice and stifles innovation in the food industry. The company, which had planned to launch its products in Miami later this year, argues that lab-grown meat offers a more ethical and sustainable alternative to conventionally raised meat.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of food technology and regulation in the United States, as other states like Alabama are considering similar bans.