Lawmakers in South Dakota and South Carolina have advanced bills requiring cultivated meat products to be clearly labeled, reflecting the growing interest in transparency for consumers navigating alternative proteins.
South Dakota on defining “cell-cultured protein”
Last week, South Dakota’s House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved House Bill 1022, which would mandate labeling for lab-grown meat products, defined as “cell-cultured protein.” The bill, proposed by the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), now moves to the full House of Representatives.
The legislation specifies that cell-cultured protein refers to products “made wholly or in part from any cell culture or the DNA of a host animal, grown or cultivated outside a live animal.” Any such product not labeled as “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” would be considered misbranded under state law. Enforcement would be carried out by the state Animal Industry Board, which would work with companies to amend labeling or remove non-compliant products from the market.
“Just as South Dakota farmers and ranchers are proud of their products, cultivated meat producers are proud of their products, too”
Cheyenne Tant, a DANR policy adviser, explained that the bill seeks to ensure consumer transparency, stating, “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,” as reported by South Dakota Searchlight.
The bill has garnered support from various agricultural groups and even the Good Food Institute (GFI), which advocates for alternative proteins. GFI’s senior scientific adviser Erin Rees Clayton noted that cultivated meat producers also favor clear labeling, adding, “Just as South Dakota farmers and ranchers are proud of their products, cultivated meat producers are proud of their products, too.”
South Carolina expands existing labeling laws
In South Carolina, the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously advanced a bill on Thursday requiring that lab-grown food products be “conspicuously labeled” to distinguish them from conventional meat. The bill, authored by Senate Agriculture Chairman Wes Climer, builds on a 2018 state law prohibiting cell-cultivated foods from being labeled as “meat” or “clean meat.”
The bill mandates clear labeling on the front of packages to identify lab-grown food as distinct from “real beef, poultry, fish, shrimp, or any other animal protein.” According to the original report in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, co-sponsor Sen. Josh Kimbrell (R-Boiling Springs) said, “We’re not banning it. We just want people to know what they are buying.”
Concern from traditional animal ag advocates
Opposition to cultivated meat labeling as “chicken” or “beef” was vocal. Sen. Everett Stubbs (R-Rock Hill) commented, “At some point, a chicken walks and clucks and does the things that chickens do. Quite frankly, I have a problem with this product being labeled chicken.”
The South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association echoed similar concerns, with director Travis Mitchell emphasizing the need to protect traditional agriculture. Agriculture contributes $25 billion annually to South Carolina’s economy, with poultry as its largest sector.
Both South Dakota and South Carolina join a movement among US states addressing labeling standards for lab-grown meat. Iowa and West Virginia already require similar transparency, while Alabama and Florida have outright banned lab-grown products. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen recently announced intentions to pursue similar measures.
