Montana Joins Florida, Alabama in Ban of Lab-Grown Fake Meat

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has signed House Bill 401 into law, making Montana the third state to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of lab-grown meat, as reported by The Western Journal.

The bill, which officially bans “cell-cultured edible products,” was signed on Tuesday and marks a growing trend among states opposing the synthetic meat industry.

“If you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying a cut of Montana beef, you know there is no substitute,” Gianforte said in a statement.

“By signing House Bill 401 into law, I am proud to defend our way of life and the hardworking Montana ranchers who produce the best beef in the world.”

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The new law defines “cell-cultured edible product” as synthetic meat made from cultured animal cells, including muscle, fat, connective tissue, and blood, developed in laboratory environments rather than harvested from slaughtered animals.

Under the legislation, both the sale and production of such products are now illegal in the state.

Agriculture remains the leading industry in Montana, with the state’s Department of Agriculture reporting that one in six residents work in agriculture or related fields. Beef has been a staple product of the state’s economy and identity since Montana entered the Union in 1889.

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Montana’s move follows similar bans in Florida and Alabama. On May 1, 2024, Florida became the first state to outlaw the synthetic protein. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill and directly criticized the World Economic Forum in his statement.

“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.

Days later, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 23, which similarly bans the manufacture, sale, or distribution of lab-grown meat.

“These folks are throwing a couple of animal cells in there with some chemicals and calling it meat,” said bill sponsor Alabama State Senator Jack Williams.

“Alabamians want to know what they are eating, and we have no idea what is in this stuff or how it will affect us.”

Williams added, “Meat comes from livestock raised by hardworking farmers and ranchers, not from a petri dish grown by scientists. We are protecting our farmers and the integrity of American agriculture.”

The list of states enacting bans is expected to grow. On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill targeting lab-grown meat, drafted at the request of Governor Jim Pillen and introduced by State Senator Barry DeKay.

If signed, Nebraska would become the fourth state to ban synthetic meat.

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