Prohibit the misbranding of any cell-cultured protein product.
Summary
HB 1022 amends South Dakota’s food misbranding law to specifically address cell-cultured protein products. The bill adds a new labeling requirement for any food that is, or contains, cell-cultured protein: the label must clearly and conspicuously state “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” in type of uniform size and prominence immediately adjacent to the food’s name. The bill defines cell-cultured protein as a product made wholly or partly from cell culture or the DNA of a host animal and grown or cultivated outside a live animal.
The measure is framed as an update to existing meat and food labeling rules under state law, expanding the definition of “misbranded” to include cell-cultured products that do not meet the new disclosure standard. It does not ban the sale of these products, but it requires specific labeling so consumers can distinguish them from conventional meat and other food products. The bill also clarifies that it does not apply to embryo transfer in livestock.
Impact
HB 1022 directly amends § 39-5-26 in South Dakota’s food and meat labeling statutes. By adding cell-cultured protein to the list of products that are misbranded if not properly labeled, it creates a new compliance obligation for manufacturers, packers, distributors, and retailers selling cultivated meat or similar products in the state. The practical effect is to require prominent disclosure on packaging and to give state regulators a clearer enforcement basis against misleading labels.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong, unanimous support at each recorded stage, with all listed votes passing 13-0, 69-0, 7-0, and 35-0. No committee transcript is available, but the absence of recorded opposition suggests the bill was broadly viewed as a straightforward consumer-labeling measure rather than a controversial restriction. Overall sentiment appears favorable and largely nonpartisan.
Contention
No formal opposition is reflected in the provided record, and there are no committee transcript excerpts indicating debate. The main policy issue implicit in the bill is whether cell-cultured protein should be singled out for special labeling and whether terms like “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” are sufficiently clear and neutral for consumers. Any contention would likely center on labeling requirements for alternative proteins, consumer transparency, and the treatment of cultivated meat relative to conventional meat products.