Texas has joined six other US states and Italy in enacting a ban on lab-grown meat products. This regulatory move could pose challenges for an industry that is still developing and faces numerous obstacles in reaching consumers effectively.
The agriculture sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock responsible for approximately 10% to 20% of these emissions. Alternative meat products, including those produced in laboratories, have the potential to reduce greenhouse gases associated with traditional agriculture.
Currently, the lab-grown meat industry in the US is limited, with only a few companies authorized to sell products such as cultivated chicken, pork fat, and salmon. Other countries like Australia, Singapore, and Israel have similarly allowed a select number of companies to market lab-grown meat products.
Upside Foods, which specializes in cultivated chicken, was among the first companies to secure legal approval for sales in the US in 2022. Recently, Wildtype Foods began selling cultivated salmon in June. Despite progress, these companies are still in the process of scaling up production, and their products are primarily available at special events or on select menus in high-end restaurants.
In Texas, lab-grown meat has had a limited presence, with Wildtype’s cultivated salmon featured on the tasting menu at Otoko, a sushi restaurant in Austin, since July. However, state officials have moved to ban this technology for a period extending until September 2027, despite its relatively limited availability.
The office of Senator Charles Perry, who authored the bill, has not provided comments on the matter. Additionally, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has not responded to inquiries, although their president supported the bill during a committee hearing in March.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/11/1123512/texas-lab-grown-meat/