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Gov. Pillen says lab-grown protein not welcome on Nebraska grocery store shelves

Nebraska could be the next state to ban the commercial sale of lab-grown protein. 

Governor Jim Pillen says he’d like to see legislation introduced in 2025 to ban its sale. 

“We need to safeguard Nebraskans. We need to make sure we’re not buying this stuff within our government. We did an executive order for that, but we’re going to put forth legislation to make sure no Nebraskan is going to see it on their grocery stores,” he says.

He tells Brownfield Nebraska livestock producers have expressed concerns.

“We have to have every market. We sure as heck can’t be losing market share to consumers who are misguided and misled with improper labeling and misled about things that have no truth to it,” he says.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has drafted rules and regulations to ensure proper labeling and to prevent lab-grown protein from being sold on store shelves next to natural meat products.

Earlier this year both Florida and Alabama made it illegal to sell lab-grown protein.

AUDIO: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen