Texas becomes seventh U.S. state to ban lab-grown meat

Texas has become the seventh U.S. state to ban the sale of lab-grown meat. Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 261 into law, prohibiting the sale of cell-cultured meat for human consumption within the state. The law will go into effect on September 1 and remain valid through September 7, 2027.

With support from the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the organization claims SB 261 ensures that only traditionally and naturally raised animal proteins are sold to Texas consumers. “Ranchers across Texas work tirelessly to raise healthy cattle and produce high-quality beef,” said Carl Ray Polk Jr., president of the association.

“Our association thanks the legislators who supported this bill and understood its essence: protecting our consumers, the beef industry, and livestock farming.”

Texas joins Indiana, Nebraska, Montana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida in taking legislative action against lab-grown meat. However, Florida is now facing a legal challenge to its 2024 law from Upside Foods, which argues that the ban “violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause,” since it was enacted to shield local producers from out-of-state competition. The lawsuit also argues that federal laws regulating interstate meat and poultry markets override the Florida law.