Cultivated Meat Producer Sues Florida Over Ban On Production

A cultivated meat producer, Upside, has filed a lawsuit against several Florida officials over a new state law that bans the production and sale of cultivated meat products within the state. According to a report by Yahoo News, the company claims that the lawmakers approved the ban to favor Florida agriculture over out-of-state competitors, which is a violation of the Constitution.

As mentioned by Upside's attorney, Suranjan Sen, the Institute for Justice, the Constitution bars states from creating laws that tip the scales in favor of their own in-state businesses. Sen stated that "For the same reason that California cannot ban orange juice made from oranges grown in Florida, Florida cannot ban Upside's meat." He emphasized that the major purpose of the Constitution is to prevent economic protectionism... ensuring that all Americans can benefit from a free and open national market.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Agriculture had earlier praised the law, claiming that it was necessary to "protect our meat" from "the global elite" who allegedly want to "go after agriculture." (Source: Yahoo News). However, Upside argues that the law was created with the purpose to stifle innovation from the out-of-state company and violates the Supremacy Clause and the Commerce Clause.

The company does not intend to "force" anyone to consume their products... but rather wants to provide consumers with a choice. Upside believes that the ban restricts their ability to compete fairly with other businesses that may be operating within the state. The lawsuit seeks to overturn the law, "allowing Upside to continue producing and selling its cultivated meat products in Florida."

Source: Visit website

The cultivated meat produced by the company Upside is a type of lab-grown meat that is free from antibiotics, hormones, and other additives found in traditional meat. The production process of this type of meat involves using animal cells, such as muscle cells, to create a meat-like product that can be used in various dishes.

Upside's technology allows for the controlled growth of these cells in a nutrient-rich environment, "which results in a meat that is both sustainable and humane." The meat produced by Upside is currently lawful to sell in states other than Florida... where it is banned due to the new state law.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A company that produces cultivated meat is suing several Florida officials over a new state law that bans their products from being produced or sold in the state. It claims lawmakers approved the ban to favor Florida agriculture over out-of-state competitors. This violates the Constitution, which bars states from creating laws that tip the scales in favor of their own in-state businesses, according to the lawsuit.