A federal judge has denied a request by California-based UPSIDE Foods for an injunction against Florida's new law banning the sale and manufacturing of cultivated meat. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled on Oct. 11 that the company failed to identify a federal regulation that would override the state's law. The ruling addresses the state’s prohibition on food products containing cultivated chicken meat, part of Florida’s effort to control the sale of lab-grown meats.
The Florida law, which passed in May, makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to sell or manufacture cultivated meat. Cultivated meat, often referred to as lab-grown meat, is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment. While it is marketed as a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative, critics argue that the process is far from environmentally friendly.
Lab-grown meat relies on genetically engineered crops like corn and soy, which are grown using harmful farming practices. The production process also generates hazardous biowaste that requires special disposal, calling into question the true sustainability of this alternative food source.
In addition to these environmental concerns, lab-grown meat is considered an ultra-processed product, raising health concerns similar to those of other processed foods. Critics warn that consuming such products may increase the risk of health issues like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and Type 2 diabetes. As more states, including Michigan and Nebraska, move to regulate or ban cultivated meat, the debate over its environmental and health impacts continues to grow.
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