State legislature records and official announcements

DeSantis Bans Lab-Grown Meat in Florida, Fetterman Supports, Amid Cronyism Claims

May 3, 2024, 07:50 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has officially banned lab-grown meat in the state, a move that has sparked widespread criticism and accusations of cronyism. Critics argue that the ban serves powerful agricultural and meat industry interests rather than public health or ethical concerns. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson supported the legislation, celebrating it as a victory for traditional agriculture and the meat industry, emphasizing the protection it offers to the cattleman and meat industry. DeSantis, who often touts 'Freedom! No nanny state here!' in his rhetoric, has been accused of contradicting these principles with the ban. Senator John Fetterman, aligning with DeSantis, has disparaged lab-grown meat as 'slop' he would never serve to his children. The controversy highlights a significant clash between innovation in food technology and traditional agricultural practices, with implications for market competition and consumer choice.