Gov. DeSantis signs bill banning sale of ‘lab-grown meat’ in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Governor Ron DeSantis signed new legislation focused on keeping lab-grown meat out of Florida.

During a news conference in Hardee County on Wednesday, the Florida governor said the state was taking action against the World Economic Forum, which DeSantis claims is trying to force the world to eat lab-grown meat and insects.

“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,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our administration will continue to focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers, and we will save our beef.”

The legislation, SB 1084, prevents the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Florida.

The bill signing is part of DeSantis’s crusade against “ESG” (environmental, social and governance), a business philosophy that encourages investors to throw their money behind companies with consideration to their handling of environmental and social issues.

The idea goes back to the 2019 Green New Deal proposed in Congress by Democrats in 2019 and subsequent committee findings suggesting the meat industry is one of the more significant contributors to global warming.

A 2020 study published in the National Library of Medicine found red meat production has a significant impact due to greenhouse gas contribution.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the sale of cultivated meat, also known as “lab-grown meat,” from two companies: Good Meat Inc. and Upside Foods. The product is grown from animal cells and shaped into familiar forms like burger patties and chicken nuggets.

Though touted as a more environmentally friendly meat alternative, a 2023 study from the University of California, Davis, suggests that lab-grown meat actually may be worse for the climate, as the cultivation process is energy-intensive. The study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, concluded that more research is needed.

You can watch the news conference on the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.