Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law on Wednesday banning lab-grown meat — a product not currently available to Florida consumers. Why? 

The Details: The law makes it illegal to “manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute” lab-grown meat in Florida. Lawmakers in Alabama, Arizona, and Tennessee are considering similar legislation. Lab-grown meat was cleared for consumption in the U.S. in 2022.

Key Quote: “Today, Florida is fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals,” DeSantis said in a press release, adding, “Our administration will continue to focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers, and we will save our beef.”

How the Media Covered It: Several outlets did not cover the bill’s Wednesday signing until Friday, potentially signaling a lack of existing attention on the issue. News and analysis coverage generally aligned with cultural conservative and liberal attitudes about meat alternatives. While The Post Millennial (Right bias) said the law “earned the respect of many,” including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), The Verge (Lean Left bias) said the law was based on a “conspiracy theory.” Several articles from left-rated outlets highlighted that lab-grown meat was “years away from commercial viability,” thereby framing DeSantis as paranoid.