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Lab-grown protein must be labeled in SD

A new law in South Dakota requires lab-grown protein to be labeled.

Governor Larry Rhoden has signed House Bill 1022, which says cell cultured protein or products containing cell cultured protein must feature the words cell cultured or lab grown. It must be clearly visible next to the name of the food on the label.

Taya Runyan is the executive director at the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association.

“I think this is a win so people have clear labeling and can tell the differences between these products.”

Runyan says there’s a difference between lab-grown protein and animal-based protein.

“Cell-based proteins are derived from living cells in an animal. And in a lab environment, it’s added to a growth medium and things are added to it to grow and stretch the muscle protein fibers that can eventually be formed into a product.”

Runyan says a cow on pasture or in a feedlot is produced much differently.

South Dakota House Agriculture Committee Chairman Marty Overweg tells Brownfield the effort is proactive, because cell-based protein isn’t commercially available yet.

“We don’t want a labeling problem we want to fix and we want to set our laws now before this gets bigger.”

Two other bills being considered in the South Dakota Legislature include a ban on the sale of lab-grown protein and a restriction on promoting lab grown protein. Both are currently in the Senate.  

House Bill 1118 would prohibit the use of state money to research, produce, promote or distribute cell cultured protein. House Bill 1109 would make it illegal to manufacture, sell or distribute lab-grown protein.

Overweg says he’s expecting the two other bills to pass, but not unanimously.

“We have people concerned the government is telling us what we can or can’t eat.”

Overweg says if passed, the ban would sunset after 10 years, but the cell-cultured protein labeling requirements are permanent.    

Other states, including Florida, have banned the sales of cell-cultured protein. Nebraska is also considering a full ban of lab-grown protein this session.

The labeling requirement is expected to go into effect July 1.