Northern Tier News

Rep. Tina Pickett has introduced a bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives aiming to ban the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown meat within the state. The legislation seeks to safeguard the interests of local farmers who produce traditional meat products for consumers.

"Pennsylvania’s hard-working farmers breed and raise the animals that become the meat products found at our local supermarkets," stated Pickett. She expressed concerns about the impact of lab-grown meat on existing markets, questioning, "But what would happen should a billion-dollar movement be successful in bringing lab-grown meat to our tables instead of the high-quality products we now enjoy?"

The bill's prime co-sponsor, Rep. Clint Owlett, emphasized farming as an integral part of life in Pennsylvania. "Generations of farmers have devoted their lives to raising top-quality animals that produce top-quality meats, both from a health and taste perspective," he noted. "The last place we should be getting our meat from is a lab."

The proposed legislation was referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in June.

Florida led by example earlier this year by becoming the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat sales, with Alabama following suit. Florida's law enforces penalties including up to 60 days in jail for violations, while Alabama imposes up to 90 days imprisonment and a $500 fine.

U.S. Senator John Fetterman supports these measures against lab-grown meat production, expressing his approval for Florida's law by stating he would never serve such products to his children and affirming his support for American ranchers and farmers.