Upside Foods Challenges Florida Meat Ban

Upside Foods, a California-based producer of lab-grown meat, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida's ban on the sale, manufacturing, and distribution of cultivated meat. The lawsuit, supported by the Institute for Justice, claims the ban is unconstitutional, violating the Supremacy and Commerce Clauses, as well as federal meat inspection laws. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials argue the ban protects the state's agriculture industry and ensures food safety. Critics, including Upside Foods, contend the law is an example of economic protectionism favoring in-state businesses. The case highlights the ongoing cultural and political debate over alternative meat products, with similar bans also enacted in Alabama. Upside Foods seeks a preliminary injunction to sell its products in Florida while the legal challenge proceeds.