Backlash against lab-grown meat inside and outside the U.S. signals growing resistance to FAKE FOOD

By ramontomeydw // 2025-01-23

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A wave of resistance against lab-grown meat has emerged in the U.S. and internationally, driven by concerns over food safety, cultural traditions and the preservation of local agriculture.
Florida and Alabama have enacted bans on lab-grown meat, while Nebraska is considering a similar measure. Florida's ban was championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who framed it as a defense against global elites.
Italy has become the first country to ban lab-grown meat, citing concerns for health, the Italian production system and cultural traditions.
The debate over lab-grown meat reflects broader skepticism about the role of technology in food production, with critics arguing that it could undermine traditional agriculture and cultural heritage.
The growing resistance to lab-grown meat raises fundamental questions about the future of food, farming and the global food supply chain, with more states and countries considering bans or restrictions.

In recent months, a wave of resistance against lab-grown meat has swept across the U.S. and beyond. This movement fueled by concerns over food safety, cultural traditions and the preservation of local agriculture has sparked a heated debate about the future of food production. States like Florida and Alabama have enacted bans on the controversial product, while Nebraska is considering a similar measure. The Sunshine State under Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a leading role in opposing lab-grown meat. Last May, DeSantis signed SB 1084 into law – effectively banning the sale and production of cultivated meat in Florida. During a press conference, he framed the ban as a defense against what he described as the globalist elites' plan to impose lab-grown meat and insects on the world. "Today, Florida is fighting back against the global elite's plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals," DeSantis said at the time. He later doubled down on the resistance against frankenfood, saying: "Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere. We're not doing that in the state of Florida." DeSantis' remarks reflect a broader sentiment among critics who view lab-grown meat as a threat to traditional agriculture and a symbol of overreach by wealthy elites and multinational corporations. The Florida Cattlemen's Association has backed the ban, arguing that lab-grown meat is an untested and potentially unsafe alternative to real beef. Alabama has followed Florida's lead, enacting its own ban on lab-grown meat. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen likewise followed suit and announced a proposal to prohibit the production and sale of cultivated meat in his state. "It's important we get on the offense so that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are not undermined," Pillen said.

Italy takes a stand as the first country to BAN lab-grown meat

These state-level actions are part of a larger trend, with ten U.S. states now requiring labeling for lab-grown meat and others considering outright bans. But the backlash against lab-grown meat is not confined to the United States. Italy has emerged as the first country to ban lab-grown meat outright, signaling a growing international backlash against what critics call "fake food." In November 2023, it became the first country to ban the production, sale and importation of cultivated meat. (Related: Viva Bistecca! Italy to ban FAKE MEAT, other synthetic foods.) "In defense of health, of the Italian production system, of thousands of jobs, of our culture and tradition, with the law approved today, Italy is the first nation in the world to be safe from the social and economic risks of synthetic food," Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said in a Facebook post at the time. The ban, which passed with overwhelming support in the Italian Senate, has been celebrated by agricultural groups like Coldiretti, Italy's largest farmers' association. Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini praised the law, stating, "We are proud to be the first country that, despite being in favor of research, prevents, as a precautionary measure, the sale of laboratory-produced food whose effects on the health of citizens are currently unknown." The Italian ban highlights the cultural and economic stakes of the lab-grown meat debate. Critics argue that cultivated meat could undermine local farmers and traditional food systems, while proponents see it as a sustainable solution to global food security challenges. As of now, only the U.S. and Singapore have approved lab-grown meat for consumption, and the European Union has yet to follow suit. If the EU does approve cultivated meat, Italy's ban could face legal challenges from the European Commission. The growing resistance to lab-grown meat reflects a broader skepticism about the role of technology in food production. Critics like DeSantis and Lollobrigida frame the issue as a battle between "real" food and "fake" alternatives, with traditional agriculture and cultural heritage at stake. As more states and countries consider bans or restrictions, the debate over lab-grown meat is likely to intensify, raising fundamental questions about the future of food, farming and the global food supply chain. For now, the message from Florida to Italy is clear: When it comes to food, many are saying "no" to the lab and "yes" to the land. Watch Josh Sigurdson of World Alternative Media discussing Italy's ban on fake meat in this clip. This video is from the Diane Sosen channel on Brighteon.com.

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Italy takes a stand as the first country to BAN lab-grown meat

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