South Carolina’s New Law: Clear Labeling for Lab-Grown Foods Approved!

A bill in South Carolina is moving forward, requiring clear labels for lab-grown food products. This legislation just got the green light from the Senate agriculture committee and is heading to the Senate floor.

The bill makes it illegal to market “cell-cultivated food” as real meat, like beef or chicken. It mandates that the source of the food is clearly stated on the package. “We’re not banning it. We just want people to know what they are buying,” said Senator Josh Kimbrell. He co-sponsored the bill and is the chair of the committee that reviewed it.

Cell-cultivated food comes from animal cells that are grown in controlled conditions. This process creates a product that looks and tastes similar to traditional meat.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Wes Climer highlighted that this new bill builds on a previous law preventing cell-cultivated foods from being labeled as “meat” or “clean meat.”

Some lawmakers like Senator Everett Stubbs feel strongly that these products shouldn’t even be referred to as chicken. “At some point, a chicken walks and clucks,” he remarked, expressing his concern. “I have a problem with labeling this product chicken.”

Travis Mitchell from the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association agrees. He noted that when farmers say “beef,” they mean meat from real animals raised on farms, not lab-grown substitutes.

Even though lab-grown products are not widely available in South Carolina yet, the U.S. FDA and USDA earlier this year approved two California companies to sell these products. Tamar Lieberman from the Good Food Institute believes there are already clear labeling requirements that protect consumers, especially those with dietary restrictions.

However, she and Kimbrell both acknowledged that lab-grown meat can be significantly more expensive—up to four times the cost of traditional meat. Despite this higher price, Kimbrell insists it’s important to recognize that it’s not automatically healthier or organic, as it is produced in a laboratory setting.

If the labeling requirements are ignored, the penalties can be stiff, including fines up to $1,000 or even a year in prison. Each unlabeled package counts as a separate violation.

Farmers in South Carolina are supportive of this legislation. Agriculture is a major industry in the state, contributing $25 billion to the economy, with poultry being the largest sector in meat production. Clinton Leach from the state’s Department of Agriculture emphasized the importance of maintaining a thriving agricultural industry.

South Carolina isn’t alone in considering lab-grown meat regulations. States like Iowa and West Virginia have similar laws, while South Dakota lawmakers are looking into it as well. Meanwhile, Alabama and Florida have imposed bans on lab-grown food products, with Nebraska’s governor expressing intent to follow suit.