As of early 2025, lab-grown meat production in the U.S. remains limited, with low output and availability restricted to select venues. (zapp2photo/Adobe Stock)

Some Michigan lawmakers are backing a bipartisan bill to ban labeling lab-grown substitutes as “meat” and require clear ingredient disclosure.

They said it would promote transparency for shoppers and fair competition for farmers. Supporters of the legislation, which is an update to Michigan’s food laws, argued clear labeling protects consumer trust, sustains demand and prevents misleading marketing.

Rep. Jerry Nyer, R-Shepherd, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, introduced the bill. He emphasized its significance to the meat industry.

“This is by no means a typical process of growing a meat product,” Nyer contended. “When you buy a pork chop, or you buy a steak, it’s just one ingredient. It’s meat. When you look at lab-grown meat there, there’s a whole litany of material that’s used to produce that.”

Critics of the legislation argued it could hinder food innovation, create unnecessary regulations and limit consumer choice for alternative types of protein.

Supporters countered it would help sustain rural economies by protecting demand for farm-raised meat, which in turn supports farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. Though regulators approved lab-grown chicken nearly two years ago, it has yet to reach grocery stores.

Nyer urged Michigan to implement transparency measures before then.

“This process of producing lab-grown meat hasn’t gone fully commercial yet, at least not here in the states,” Nyer acknowledged. “They’re ramping up production for that. I don’t know of any that has gotten approval to go commercial. This is sort of a preemptive thing there.”

Nyer expects a hearing on the bill in about a month in the House Agriculture Committee.