Judge Allows Challenge to Florida Cultivated Meat Ban

A federal judge has allowed UPSIDE Foods Inc., a California-based company, to proceed with its lawsuit challenging Florida's 2024 ban on the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat. The court permitted the argument that the law may violate the dormant Commerce Clause by giving Florida farmers an unconstitutional advantage over out-of-state competitors, while dismissing claims related to federal preemption. UPSIDE Foods, represented by the Institute for Justice, asserts the ban is anti-competitive and seeks only the right to compete in Florida. Cultivated meat, produced from animal cells, has been approved by U.S. regulators but faces state bans in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Florida officials argue the bans protect local agriculture and are not preempted by federal approval. The case spotlights ongoing debates over food innovation, interstate commerce, and regulatory authority.