cultivated meat

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, who held a hearing Monday, issued a 21-page decision denying the Upside Foods' request for a preliminary injunction. The ruling does not end the company's lawsuit.

Upside Foods filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law and requested a preliminary injunction.

The lawsuit argues a new law against cultivated meat is unconstitutional and unfairly protects Florida cattle farmers from competition by out-of-state producers.

Florida, Alabama and Iowa have already enacted restrictions. Backers say they want to protect farmers and consumers. But those within the industry say their products must meet rigorous government safety tests.

DeSantis said the law will protect the state’s cattle industry against “an ideological agenda that wants to finger agriculture as the problem.”

Federal agencies have deemed lab-grown, or cultivated, meat safe to eat. But the legislation, supported by the state’s agriculture industry, “pumps the brakes” on the food to ensure it is safe.

The part of the bill that has drawn the most attention is a ban on the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat, with sponsor Sen. Jay Collins noting that for now “there’s no guarantee of safety for the consumer."

Federal agencies have deemed lab-grown, or cultivated, meat safe to eat. But the legislation, supported by the state’s agriculture industry, “pumps the brakes” on the food to ensure it is safe.