Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has banned lab-grown meat, saying he will “save our beef” from the “global elite” and its “authoritarian plans”.

“Florida is fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs,” Mr DeSantis said in a statement.

The first-in-the-nation law prohibits anyone from selling or distributing lab-grown meat in Florida.

Similar efforts are under way in Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee.

Lab-grown or “cultivated” meat was first cleared for consumption in the US in 2022.

The process of making cultivated meat involves extracting cells from an animal, which are then fed with nutrients such as proteins, sugars and fats. The end product is genetically indistinguishable from traditionally produced meat.

Studies have suggested that eating cultivated meat can cut carbon emissions and water usage, and free up land for nature, compared to eating traditionally produced meat.

  • @djsoren19
    link
    fedilink
    87 months ago

    I mean, you’re basically describing a black bean burger. The real question is why we still can’t buy like, pre-packaged black bean burger mix or ready made patties easily.

    • @zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      97 months ago

      You can, at least in my local grocery stores. Black bean burger patties have been available in the frozen section for years.

      They’re a bit of a rip off because they’re way more expensive than a can of beans + spices, and probably an order of magnitude more expensive than dry beans + spices, but they’re usually around the same price as the premade beef patties, by weight.

      • @djsoren19
        link
        fedilink
        47 months ago

        Damn, guess I just live in an area where they’re not as common then. They’re definitely a rip-off, but then so are all pre-made patties. You pay a premium for the convenience.

        • @interrobang@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          87 months ago

          If you live near Aldi’s, they have a frozen black bean patty available sometimes. I can’t tell the rhythm or reason to when they stock it, but they are reasonably priced and pretty tasty if ya see em