The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill last week (25 April) that prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells within the state.

The bill, titled SB23, is a different version than the bill that was approved in February. The House Health Committee changed the bill, clarifying that state entities, universities and federal institutions would still be allowed to research cultivated food products.

Under the bill, violations would be classed as a Category C felony. The food safety permit of a food sales establishment could be suspended or revoked upon conviction of the owner or an employee. If signed into law, the legislation would be effective from 1 October 2024.

Civil penalties for food service establishments would range from $100 to $10,000, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Newly elected state representative Marilyn Lands, who is a Democrat, objected to the bill. She said: "I thought Conservatives, Republicans were all about letting the free market do its work...I don't believe that we should be dictating what people can eat or criminalise people who sell or service certain foods, even when they've received approval from the federal government. This makes no sense to me. We don't even do this with cigarettes."

Despite Lands' protestations, the bill, titled SB23, passed 85-14 with two abstentions. The Senate must concur with any House changes before it goes to Governer Kay Ivey's desk for a signature.

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