PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — A South Dakota House committee votes unanimously today (Wednesday) to require special labels for lab-grown meat products.
House Bill 1022 aims to help consumers distinguish between traditional and cell-cultured meat.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources -Committee voted 13-0 to approve HB 1022, requiring lab-grown meat products to be marked as “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” on their labels.
“South Dakota consumers deserve transparency when deciding whether to purchase a product grown in a lab versus products grown by our hardworking farmers and ranchers,” said Cheyenne Tant, a Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources policy advisor.
The bill comes as federal regulators have begun approving lab-grown meat for production in the U.S. These products start with animal cells that are fed sugars and proteins to grow into muscle and fat tissue.
While supporting clear labeling, Erin Reese Clayton from the Good Food Institute suggested adding “cell cultivated” to the approved label language. The Department of Agriculture opposed any changes to the bill’s wording.
There were no opponents to the measure.
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
