Politicians shouldn’t decide what’s for dinner

Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed a bill to ban cultivated meat in Florida. It sparked headlines and forced a lot of Americans to consider whether they would ever want their meat to come from a bioreactor instead of an animal.

Right now, most answer “no.” Sixty percent of those surveyed in a recent YouGov poll said they definitely or probably wouldn’t try cell-cultivated meat. Even Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) jumped in with DeSantis, mocking the image of a bioreactor and saying he’s in the “pro-ribeye” caucus.

But does that preference justify an actual ban on cultivated meat?

Cultivated meat has never been sold in Florida. If it ever is, consumers should have the choice to buy or not buy it. Many won’t — at least initially. Some might not want meat made in a bioreactor. Others like the idea (as inaccurate as it may be) that they’re buying meat from a local family farm. 

But there will be a large group that appreciates the environmental, ethical and food safety benefits of cultivated meat. And there will be some who are just curious. But let consumers decide.

In his signing ceremony, DeSantis stumbled upon this obvious logic, saying “This bill doesn’t affect some stuff they have out there — like Impossible Burger …. I don’t understand the point. And it doesn’t taste as good. But whatever floats your boat.”

Exactly. Whatever floats your boat. Some people call that “freedom.”

Polling suggests that the most hated foods in America are oysters, black licorice and anchovies. Surely, no one wants to ban those.

Both DeSantis and Fetterman also cite their support for the animal agriculture industry as the basis for banning cultivated meat. DeSantis’s signing ceremony was littered with “save our beef” signs. (Beef needs saving?) But, by that logic, shouldn’t politicians go after plant-based foods, too?

Well, in fact, they are doing that.

Iowa recently passed a bill seeking a federal waiver to ban the use of federal SNAP benefits for plant-based eggs, including the brand I lead, JUST Egg. Last week, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) included language in the federal Farm Bill that would pave the way for Iowa’s ban.

Other members of Congress are pushing the Dairy Pride Act, which would stop soy, oat and almond milk brands from using the word “milk,” as if consumers are somehow confused. 

Fetterman co-authored the Consistent Egg Labeling Act, which would restrict the use of the term “egg” to “the reproductive output of avian poultry species.” That law wouldn’t just attack plant-based egg brands but also, unintentionally, the Cadbury Egg. I hope Hershey lobbyists — and Easter candy enthusiasts — are paying attention.

The logic behind these authoritarian bans is dizzying. Some go for good old-fashioned cronyism or industrial policy. Others cite fictional safety concerns. Cultivated meat in the market is safe and approved by the USDA and FDA. 

One Florida representative even suggested that building bioreactors could result in a missile attack from China and widespread famine. DeSantis’ conspiracy theory is that global elites are secretly plotting to ban meat.

Ironically, these subjects are reasons for cultivated and plant-based foods. America is the world leader in alternative proteins, fostering the leading plant-based and cultivated meat companies. Despite China rapidly trying to catch up, our country is ready to continue to dominate agriculture in the next century, so long as we don’t stand in our own way. These technologies can also help solve some of our food safety and food security challenges. 

No one is trying to ban meat. But other sources of protein would make us less vulnerable to threats such as avian flu and bioterrorism.

Ultimately, these food bans and restrictions will prove to be bad politics. Voters will see through the pandering.

I live in Northern Wisconsin, in a community where it’s not always easy to explain that I work for a company that makes plant-based eggs and cultivated meat. My neighbors might not buy our products, but they wouldn’t suggest we ban cultivated meat or pull almond milk off the shelves at the Piggly Wiggly, because that goes against everything our country stands for.

Food bans represent a rejection of freedom and innovation. They are demeaning — as if consumers can’t figure out how to go grocery shopping. If your lactose intolerance drives you to oat milk, your ethics push you to cultivated chicken or your cravings demand the prime rib special, that should be up to you. 

One thing Democrats and Republicans, carnivores and vegans can agree on is that politicians shouldn’t be telling us what’s for dinner.

Thomas Rossmeissl is the head of marketing and policy at Eat Just Inc. Eat Just’s GOOD Meat is the first cultivated meat in the world to be sold commercially.