Cultivated meat company UPSIDE Foods, based in Berkeley, California, served cultivated chicken sandwiches during the Indianapolis 500 event on Sunday. This demonstration occurred shortly before Indiana’s statewide ban on the sale of cultivated meat takes effect on July 1, 2025.
“Banning safe, USDA-approved food is anti-free market and frankly, un-American”
Indiana’s legislation prohibits the sale of cultivated meat products, including those produced by UPSIDE Foods. The company used the Indy 500 event to respond to the upcoming ban, stating on social media: “UPSIDE is here to defend your right to choose delicious chicken grown without the kill. So we served cultivated chicken sandwiches at the hashtag Indy500 to make a point: banning safe, USDA-approved food is anti-free market and frankly, un-American.
Legal fight against state bans
UPSIDE Foods is actively engaged in legal challenges against state prohibitions. In August 2024, the company filed a lawsuit against Florida, the first state to enact a ban on cultivated meat sales. The legal action argues that Florida’s ban violates constitutional provisions. In April 2025, Chief Judge Mark Walker of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida denied the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. This small victory allows the case to proceed to trial.
Earlier this year, the company implemented workforce reductions as part of a strategic restructuring designed to enhance operational efficiency.
UPSIDE furthered,“Why did UPSIDE chicken go to the Indy 500? It’s in a fowl mood. Indiana is banning cultivated meat as of July 1, 2025. The freedom to choose what you eat is just as American as a good tailgate.”
