Five US states have now banned lab-grown meat. On May 1, 2025, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill prohibiting the manufacture, sale and distribution of the product. And on May 6, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a two-year ban into law, followed by strict labeling laws after the law expires. 

“The lab-grown meat sector will continue to face headwinds as consumers and lawmakers learn more about the use of ‘immortalized cells’ and the lack of long-term nutritional and health studies around the product," said Jack Hubbard, executive director of the Center for the Environment and Welfare, a critic of lab-grown meat. “We are seeing a bipartisan consumer movement against the experimental product that we believe will intensify as more learn about how lab-grown meat is manufactured."

CEW launched a public education campaign in 2023 to help consumers and lawmakers get the facts about the emerging industry. For example, supporters often claim that lab-grown meat is more sustainable than traditional, farm-raised meat products. However, researchers at UC Davis believe lab-grown meat could have 25 times the environmental impact of farm-raised meat. 

Nebraska is currently considering legislation to ban the experimental product. Florida, Alabama and Mississippi have also enacted their own bans. 

Source: Center for the Environment and Welfare