Lab-Grown Meat vs. State of Florida

They’re not calling it Franken-Meat yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

Florida resident Jeff Bezos is the founder and former CEO of Amazon. He has invested $60 million into lab-grown meat. This comes at a time when tens of thousands of pounds of meat are being recalled by the USDA. Due to concerns about E. coli.

Bezos claims he’s trying to establish a healthy and sustainable supply of meat for a hungry world. But he’s in for a fight with Ron DeSantis.

Saying he’s standing up for farmers, the Florida governor has banned lab-grown meat in his state.

‘In Direct Opposition to Authentic Agriculture’

Wilton Simpson is the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. He said, “Florida is taking a tremendous step in the right direction. By signing first-in-the nation legislation banning lab-grown meat.

“We must protect our incredible farmers and the integrity of American agriculture. Lab-grown meat is a disgraceful attempt to undermine our proud traditions and prosperity. And in direct opposition to authentic agriculture.”

In a news release, DeSantis’s office said, “Florida is increasing meat production. And encouraging residents to continue to consume and enjoy 100% real Florida beef.”

Previously, DeSantis had criticized “the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish.” Or to eat “bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals.”

East Coast E. Coli Fear

Before examining the other side of this argument, let’s take a look at a couple of those recent meat recalls.

Last month, more than 16,000 pounds of ground beef sold at Walmart were recalled. Due to a possible E. coli contamination.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cargill Meat Solutions produced it. And distributed to Walmart stores in 11 Eastern states. Plus Washington, D.C.

As of this writing, there were no confirmed reports of illness linked to those beef products. The manufacturer said it had ordered the recall out of “an abundance of caution.”

West Coast E. Coli Concerns

More recently, over 20,000 pounds of frozen beef products were recalled in the West. It was discovered they had not been inspected when imported into the U.S.

The importer is South American Meat, Inc. They are based in California. The products should have been presented to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service. Upon their arrival from Uruguay.

Nine different beef products were included in the recall. They were being sold in cardboard cases. The number “58” was listed inside the inspection mark on the shipping box. There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses associated with the products.

Those beef products found their way to distributors and restaurants. Plus retailers and other institutions in four states prior to the recall. They are Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington.

Bezos Trying to ‘Protect the Planet’

As for Bezos, the appeal of lab-grown meats stretches beyond decreasing the risk of disease. He believes these “plant-based, fermented, and cultivated meats” to be a step toward expanding food production around the world. 

There’s also the motivation of environmentally friendly food production. Lauren Sanchez, fiancée to Jeff Bezos and chairperson for the Bezos Earth Fund, notes “we need to feed 10 billion people with healthy, sustainable food throughout this century. While protecting our planet.” 

Lab-grown meats are different from alternative protein sources you might be familiar with like Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods. While these companies use alternative protein sources such as beans or tofu, lab-grown meats are grown from animal cells replicated scientifically. 

Bezos’s venture is gaining attention due to his high profile, but not all Americans are keen on potentially disrupting the business of agriculture for the sake of petri-dish protein. 

From the Lab to the Courtroom

Will Bezos be able to sell his lab-grown meat in the Sunshine State? Eventually, the courts will probably decide.

Florida ranks 13th in the country in overall cattle numbers. The total herd size is 886,000. That’s among 15,000 beef producers in the state. With total sales of $546 million.    

Ranching and beef production have been central to Florida’s heritage for more than 400 years. That’s according to the Florida Beef Council.

The first cattle brought to Florida arrived in 1521 along with explorer Juan Ponce De Leon. Nearly one-half of Florida agricultural land is now involved in cattle production.

It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Should Jeff Bezos and others be allowed to produce and sell meat grown in laboratories?

Or should meat only be sold if it comes from real animals raised on farms by American farmers?

Do you think “meat-labs” put farmers and agriculture at risk? 

I’d love to hear your opinion about this. Let us know what you think in the Comments section below.  

Comments

  • Roberta Biggs - July 22, 2024

    all recalls , whither it be food , autos, ice cream , meat or what ever, could save manufactures lots of money and customers money and illness and trouble if they made sure they had good quality control before they sent products out to distributers and stores . God gave us good food, No lab meat ! !

  • Margaret Beverly - July 21, 2024

    NO, NO, NO TO LAB GROWN MEAT OR VEGGIES THAT I FEED MY FAMILY!!! Thank God for our farmers and ranchers. God bless them.

  • Carol - July 21, 2024

    Absolutely NO! It’s nauseating and disgusting just having to think about it!

  • WILLIAM M LEGGETT - July 21, 2024

    HELL NO, I HAVE EATEN TO MANY MILITARY C-RATS, AND SOME OF THEIR OTHER RATIONS.

    I WILL STICK TO 4PATRIOTS FOOD. THE CAN MEAT FIXWS RIGHT IS GREAT.

    BILL

  • Roger Myers - July 21, 2024

    I agree, lab grown meat should be banned. I will not eat it and don’t believe it is safe. Eat what the goog Lord has given us

  • Brian - July 21, 2024

    The WEF elites are the enemy of the people on this planet.

  • Marcia Bryan - June 19, 2024

    Leave the lab grow meat or meals out for a week, they don’t rot or grow mold. Tells me we should not be eating them.

  • Thomas - June 17, 2024

    I have a science degree in microbiology, and seen this day coming long ago complements from the GI bill in the early 1980’s. My suspicions were confirmed with the cloning of a sheep. The lord God’s design is perfect, where man’s imperfections are not. Although the idea is a good one, it’s still not perfect. Even though I didn’t vote for DeSantis, I’m on his side for the ban for lab grown meat. Too many things can happen with bad fingers……

  • Connie - June 13, 2024

    Lab grown meat is not wanted or welcome in my home. I don’t trust the product to be safe for human consumption. I buy my meat from a local rancher and will continue to do so. I believe in supporting American farmers/ranchers.

  • Brian - June 13, 2024

    J. Bezos should be required to eat his lab meat every day for a year, then let’s see the affect it had on him before it’s sold to others.

  • William Underdown - June 13, 2024

    It really doesn’t matter anymore but it should. With our corrupt government and the big CEO’s of the world we are dead. Unless we can bring the world government to its knees and start over fresh we are doomed. They believe the world is over populated and their doing the best they can to depopulate the world to a more manageable number. So it doesn’t matter if it’s lab grown meat or what they will poison us one way or another. Don’t believe me try reading the labels on food products, since when did you ever see bio engineered on the labels before 2020. I rest my case, believe what you will, the end is already here and no one is lifting a finger to stop it. They have blinded us to the truth and we are obediently going along with it like a frog being put in a pot of water where it will swim around in it even when the temperature is turned up to boiling without trying to hop out. I would say get closer to God right now while you still can but like the frog 🐸 you won’t!!!!!

  • Christine - June 13, 2024

    Bezos won’t be eating it . Guarantee he won’t give up his Wagu beef 🥩

  • Debra Heimann - June 13, 2024

    God made is always better than man made!

  • Gail Schneider - June 13, 2024

    I’m for. The American farmers, never lab produced

  • Ellen - June 13, 2024

    I wonder what the nutritional facts label and ingredients list will look like. How do you ‘labricate’ real nutrition without real food? Lord helps us!

  • Kim Brannam - June 13, 2024

    NO to lab grown beef! All of these rich folks think they can rule the world and therefore make all the rules. They can afford to grow all the contaminated beef they can choke down with their own money, in their own labs. Don’t tell us what to eat! The rich can never have enough money but use their wealth to create more and more etc… not caring about a damn thing but themselves. Stay out of my kitchen, freezer, off of my grill and the hell out of my life! Lunatics.

  • Robert Ross - June 13, 2024

    ODE TO THE BBQ

    In pastures green, where daisies dance,
    And gentle breezes softly prance,
    There grazes a creature, noble and true,
    Whose presence brings a peaceful view.

    Ode to the cow, with coat of cream,
    Majestic in the sun’s warm gleam,
    With eyes so kind, and spirit free,
    A symbol of life’s simplicity.

    From the tip of her tail to her twitching ear,
    She’s a symbol of plenty, year after year.
    With udders full and heart content,
    In meadows wide, her days are spent.

    But alas! Troubles arise,
    As shadows fall ’neath azure skies,
    The far left is attacking Moo-moos,
    For the methane that poots out of their rear ends, true.

    From the south end of a north walking hay-burner,
    Comes a gas that some say makes the world warmer.
    But forget the lab meats, the fancy trends,
    Eat a cow and save the planet, my friends!

    So let’s raise a toast to the humble cow,
    For in her presence, we take a vow,
    To cherish the land, the air, the sea,
    And in her grazing, find harmony.

    That’s all, Moo to you!

    Robert Ross 2024

  • Stephen Hiller - June 13, 2024

    Jeff Bezos thinks he can improve on God’s creation. He is in for a big surprise one day. I get my meat from ranchers I trust. They don’t use over-crowded feed lots, hormone injections, etc. And the taste sure beats store-bought meat, at least according to my friends who still go grocery shopping at the supermarket.

  • Vicki - June 13, 2024

    No Frankenstein lab grown fake food products ever, be it meat, fish or veggie.

    Bezos and all his ilk should cease and desist with their satanic agendas for our planet.

  • Mark Roscka - June 13, 2024

    No lab grown anything…no GMO ‘s either…GREED is ruining this country….God bless our farmers

  • Beverly - June 12, 2024

    We should not buy Lab food at any cost for any reason. We need are farmers, with fresh vegetables, meat with real cattle

  • Margaret Nusser Gerlach - June 12, 2024

    I do not ever want to eat lab grown meat. The bias against beef production is ridiculous when compared to China’s and India’s pollution and the complete disregard for the amount of pollution hundreds of jet airplanes blow into the atmosphere daily. Leave my beef, poultry, and pork alone!!!!! I want the real thing.

  • Mike Davis - June 12, 2024

    I just can’t fathom eating something grown in a lab.I don’t want this lab meat. Who knows what they might be adding to this fake meat.

  • Lowell Preston - June 12, 2024

    I don’t think they should be allowed to grow meat in the lab. Meat should come from farm animals only.
    Meat labs would put the farmers at risk.

  • Timothy Wenger - June 12, 2024

    Well, there is alot of attention being paid to highly ultra processed foods being not to healthy for humans to consume. It seems to me that the far left is attacking cows because of the methane they belch out. But what would be next to attack: waterbuffalos, bisin, and any other animal with multiple stomachs. The far right does not want to give individuals the right to have alternatives to the food preferences. Having alternatives and choices is the America right but no one person, organization, or government entity, should make those decisions for the individual. Bottom line is that the lab grown meat could help in less wealth countries and starving populations, but right now it is cost prohibitive. As for as we in the US are concerned, this lab meat is a possible choice for vegans, vegetarians, individuals with meat allergies, and those concerned with the planet, but it should be an option and not a replacement for the real meat.

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