The bill advancing in South Carolina emphasizes transparency in food labeling, aiming to make sure consumers are clearly informed about the origins of lab-grown or cell-cultivated meat products.
It requires that these products be labeled distinctly to avoid confusion with traditional animal meats.
While supporters, like Sen. Josh Kimbrell and agricultural groups, argue it’s about ensuring consumers understand what they’re buying, opponents within the alternative protein industry, such as Tamar Lieberman, assert that current labeling already addresses dietary and ethical concerns.
This is part of a broader trend across the country where states are either passing similar legislation or considering bans on lab-grown meat products.
As the technology develops, particularly with companies like Upside Foods and Good Meat entering the market, the conversation about how to categorize and regulate such products is intensifying.