My father raised Black Angus cattle for quite a few years, and while I was quite young when he hung up his spurs - literally, as the Old Man maintained that the best way to move a herd of cattle was on horseback - I never got over my love for a thick, delicious Black Angus steak.
But I'm also a big believer in liberty and individual choice. So when I saw that Texas had become the 7th state to outlaw lab-raised meat, I was of two minds on the matter.
Texas will become the seventh state to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat in September.
Florida was the first, followed by Alabama last year. This year, five more states, including Texas, followed.
They did so after the Trump administration took the opposite approach. In 2019, the first Trump administration was the first in U.S. history to begin the process to authorize lab-grown chicken, seafood and beef in the U.S.
In 2023, under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. became the second country in the world to approve the production and sale of lab-grown meat.
This is an issue that's properly handled in the states. The Constitution nowhere allows the federal government to approve or disapprove of any foods, but candidly, that ship has sailed. The Biden administration, in particular, not only didn't abide by the Constitution, but most of them probably never read it.
Texas, though, it's as concerned about food safety as they are about ranchers, and given that this is Texas, that's understandable.
Recognizing the importance of the Texas cattle industry and health concerns expressed by Texans, state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, filed SB 261 to ban the sale of lab-grown meat in Texas. The bill, which includes civil and criminal penalties, received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last month. It becomes effective Sept. 1.
“The introduction of lab-grown meat could disrupt traditional livestock markets, affecting rural economies and family farms,” Perry’s bill analysis states. “There are concerns over transparency in labeling, risk of contamination, and the long-term health impacts of consuming cell-cultured products.” The measure prohibits the production and sale of cell-cultured protein products in Texas “to protect consumers and support traditional agriculture.”
Well, traditional agriculture is good, although I suspect that lab-grown meats would, in any case, be only a very small niche market product for lefty virtue-signalers. Remember the old joke about how you know if there's a vegan at your party? He'll tell you.
Read More: Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Faces Federal Lawsuit
OPINION: DeSantis Signing a Bill Banning Lab-Grown Meat in Florida Is the Wrong Move
Honestly, though, some lab-grown pink goo is never going to take the place of a sizzling-hot, genuine steak, fresh off the grill, with those good grill marks and the sizzling golden strip of fat on one side. Or how about a thick hand-pressed burger patty, with cheese and bacon? Or steak fajitas? Or a savory beef stew, with big chunks of beef? I'm skeptical about the idea that anything lab-grown could replace those.
OK, now I'm hungry.
I still think these decisions should be properly made by consumers, as long as the product is safe. But with Texas being a ranching state, this new law is probably understandable.
This seems appropriate.
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