Nebraska becomes 4th state to clamp down on lab-grown meat

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the state’s Department of Agriculture announced new initiatives aimed at protecting the state’s agriculture industry and consumers from lab-grown meat, highlighting the growing resistance to this emerging food technology.

Speaking to a group of producers at Oak Barn Beef in West Point, the governor signed an executive order imposing strict guidelines on state agencies and contractors regarding the procurement of lab-grown meat.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers are dedicated to producing the highest quality food products,” Pillen said. “We feed the world and protect the planet more effectively than anyone else, and I am committed to defending these practices.”

The governor also directed the NDA to initiate a rulemaking process to ensure that lab-grown meat products are clearly labeled and not placed alongside natural meat on store shelves. A public hearing on these draft regulations is scheduled for October 8.

»Related: People’s moral values affect attitudes toward lab-grown meat

NDA Director Sherry Vinton emphasized the importance of transparency for consumers, stating, “Nebraska consumers deserve to know that what they are purchasing is safe, wholesome meat, not a lab-grown product.”

Local producer Hannah Klitz, co-owner of Oak Barn Beef, noted the value of educating consumers about food origins, stressing the importance of transparency in maintaining trust and meeting consumer expectations.

Cattle producer Jeanne Reigle echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the rigorous standards Nebraska ranchers follow in raising livestock and producing top-quality food products. She said the need for clear regulations on lab-grown meat to protect both consumers and the state’s agricultural economy.

In addition to the executive order and forthcoming NDA regulations, Pillen announced plans to work with state legislators in the upcoming session to draft legislation banning lab-grown meat in Nebraska.

This announcement follows similar actions in other states, including Iowa, which recently passed legislation to regulate lab-grown meat, while Florida and Alabama have moved to ban the products outright.