From Dairy Herd Management:
Several years ago, lab-grown dairy — produced through precision fermentation or cell-culturing techniques — emerged as a high-tech disruptor in the food industry. Startups and venture capitalists positioned these products as sustainable, animal-free alternatives to traditional milk, garnering significant media attention. However, U.S. dairy producers were quick to push back, dismissing these innovations as “fake milk.” Now, that initial momentum is hitting a legislative wall as states move to protect their agricultural heritage.
Mississippi has officially become the first state in the U.S. to explicitly ban cell-cultured dairy products. This follows the passage of HB 1153, a bill that broadens the legal definitions of meat, manufactured protein, cultivated protein, insect protein, plant protein and cell-cultured dairy. The legislation is designed to prevent the misbranding of dairy products and establishes strict labeling requirements and inspection authorities. Most notably, the law implements an outright ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of lab-grown dairy products within the state.