Meat Laws & How to Get Involved

Key takeaway: USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) oversees meat and poultry labels, the FDA oversees most other foods, and the two agencies share oversight of cell-cultivated meat and poultry. As of October 2026, nine states have passed laws banning or pausing cell-cultivated meat sales (one of them isn't in effect yet), and many more have labeling rules. Several of those laws are temporary or being challenged in court.

Updated October 18, 2026 · Sources checked October 18, 2026

Please read first. This page is general information, not legal advice. It is current as of October 2026. Laws change, several lawsuits are still pending, and some rules depend on dates or court decisions. Check the linked official source, or ask a qualified attorney, before relying on anything here.

"Real meat" is this directory's own shorthand for meat from raised or harvested animals. It is not a legal category, and no U.S. law uses it that way. Cell-cultivated products are grown from real animal cells. They fall outside the directory by our definition, but that is not a claim that they are "fake."

We don't take sides on any of the laws below. This page explains what the rules say and how the process works, so you can read the sources and decide for yourself.

1. Federal basics: who regulates what

Two main agencies

USDA FSIS regulates meat, poultry and egg products. Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act this covers cattle, sheep, swine, goats and catfish (fish of the order Siluriformes). Under the Poultry Products Inspection Act it covers chicken, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites and squab. (FSIS; CRS R48427)
The FDA regulates most other foods, including plant-based products made to resemble meat, and seafood other than catfish. (CRS R48427; FDA)
The Federal Trade Commission oversees food advertising, according to the Congressional Research Service. (CRS R48427)

Cell-cultivated meat and poultry: a shared system

Under a March 2019 agreement, the FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. Oversight passes to FSIS at harvest, and FSIS oversees processing, packaging and labeling from there. The facility needs a USDA grant of inspection, and all labels for cell-cultured meat and poultry must be pre-approved by FSIS. Products grown from the cells of seafood (other than catfish) and game meat are regulated by the FDA alone. (FDA; FSIS)

FSIS asked for public comments on labeling these products in 2021. That comment period closed on December 2, 2021. As of the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda, a proposed rule was listed as "to be determined." (Federal Register, 86 FR 49491; Reginfo.gov, RIN 0583-AD89)

Plant-based products

In January 2025 the FDA issued draft guidance recommending that plant-based alternatives name their plant source, such as "soy-based." Draft guidance is non-binding, and the FDA accepts comments on any guidance at any time under docket FDA-2022-D-1102. (FDA)

Label approval

Meat and poultry labels need FSIS approval before use. Many labels qualify for "generic" approval: the company certifies that the label follows the rules and doesn't submit it. Some labels must be submitted for "sketch" approval, including labels with certain special statements and claims (such as many animal-raising claims) and labels for products made under a religious exemption. (9 CFR part 412; CRS R48427)

Inspection mark, state inspection and exempt meat

USDA mark of inspection. Every container of USDA-inspected meat, poultry and egg products must carry the USDA mark of inspection and an establishment number. The number identifies the plant: "EST." for meat plants, "P-" for poultry plants. (FSIS)
State inspection. Some states run their own meat and poultry inspection programs under agreements with FSIS. Their rules must be "at least equal to" federal rules for meat sold within the state. Under the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, state-inspected meat can be sold nationwide if the state's rules are the "same as" federal rules. (FSIS)
Custom-exempt meat. When an animal is slaughtered or processed only for the owner's household, that work is exempt from federal inspection. The meat must be marked "Not for Sale" and can't be sold. This can apply when you buy a share of a live animal from a farm and have it processed for your household. Ask the farm or processor how the meat will be handled. (FSIS Directive 8160.1)

Grading is voluntary

USDA quality grades such as Prime, Choice and Select come from a voluntary, fee-based grading service run by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Grading isn't the same as safety inspection, and ungraded meat can be perfectly good meat. (AMS; CRS R48427)

Animal-raising claims, including grass-fed

Claims like "grass fed," "free-range" and "raised without antibiotics" are voluntary. FSIS approves each one case by case, based on the company's documentation of how the animals were raised. FSIS explains what it expects in a 2024 guideline. (Federal Register, Sept. 10, 2024; FSIS-GD-2024-0006)

Grass-fed claims apply to grazing animals (ruminants), such as cattle, sheep and goats. FSIS's detailed definition is written for cattle: after weaning, the animals eat only forage, such as grass, legumes, hay and silage. (FSIS-GD-2024-0006)

Origin labels

Since January 1, 2026, a voluntary "Product of USA" or "Made in the USA" claim on FSIS-regulated meat means the animal was born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. (Federal Register, March 18, 2024; 9 CFR 412.3) Separately, mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) at retail covers lamb, goat and chicken, plus fish and shellfish, but does not cover beef or pork. (AMS COOL)

2. State laws, as of October 2026

States have taken very different approaches. Some ban the sale of cell-cultivated meat, some ban it only for a set period, and others require clear labels instead. The tables below list only laws we could check against an official state source or a court record on October 18, 2026. Laws change and lawsuits are pending, so always check the source link for the latest. "Check source" means we confirmed that the law exists but couldn't fully confirm every detail.

States that ban or pause cell-cultivated meat sales

State	What the law does	Status (Oct. 2026)	Source
Alabama	Bans making, selling or distributing food made from cultured animal cells. Allows research by government bodies and universities and their formal partners.	In effect (since Oct. 1, 2024)	SB 23 (2024), enrolled
Florida	Bans making for sale, selling or distributing cultivated meat.	In effect. Challenged in court: in March 2026 a federal appeals court let the ban stand while the case continues, and a separate claim is still pending.	Fla. Stat. § 500.452; 11th Cir. No. 24-13640
Indiana	Bans selling, offering for sale or making cultivated meat products. After the ban ends, packages must say "THIS IS AN IMITATION MEAT PRODUCT."	Temporary: ban runs July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. Labeling rule starts July 1, 2027.	HEA 1425 (2025)
Louisiana	Bans selling, making or distributing cell-cultured food products, and mixing them with meat products.	Enacted May 29, 2026 (Act 555). Not in effect yet: it takes effect only after a final U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding state bans like it.	HB 512 (2026)
Mississippi	Bans making, selling or distributing food made from cultured animal cells.	In effect (since July 1, 2025)	HB 1006 (2025); Miss. Dept. of Agriculture
Montana	Prohibits making, selling, holding or offering cell-cultured edible products for sale.	In effect (2025 law)	Mont. Code § 50-31-501
Nebraska	Treats cultivated-protein food products as adulterated food, which bars making or selling them.	In effect (approved May 20, 2025)	LB 246 (2025)
South Dakota	Bans selling, holding for sale or distributing any product containing cell-cultured protein. A separate 2025 law requires "cell-cultured" or "lab-grown" on labels.	Temporary: ban runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031	SB 124 (2026); SDCL 39-5-26
Texas	Bans selling or offering cell-cultured protein for human consumption. Separately requires "cell-cultured," "lab-grown" or a similar term on labels.	Temporary: the ban expires Sept. 1, 2027. Challenged in court: a federal judge declined to block it in January 2026, and the case and an appeal are ongoing.	SB 261 (2025); W.D. Tex. No. 1:25-cv-01408

States with labeling laws for cell-cultivated or plant-based products

These laws generally allow the products to be sold but control what the label can say. A "qualifying term" is a word like "plant-based," "cell-cultured" or "lab-grown" placed next to a meat word such as "burger" or "chicken."

State	What the law does	Status (Oct. 2026)	Source
Arizona	Food made from cultivated cells must say "cell-cultivated" or "cell-cultured" on the package.	In effect	A.R.S. § 36-917
Arkansas	Bars representing a product as meat if it isn't from harvested livestock, poultry or cervids, among other label rules.	Partly in effect. Challenged in court: in 2022 a federal court blocked one provision statewide and blocked several others as applied to one plant-based company. Check source.	E.D. Ark. No. 4:19-cv-00514 (2022)
Colorado	Food processing plants must label cell-cultivated meat as "cell-cultivated meat" and can't misbrand it as a meat product.	In effect (since Aug. 6, 2025)	HB25-1203
Georgia	Food not from an animal can't be labeled as meat unless it says "lab-grown," "lab-created" or "grown in a lab" (cell-cultured), or "vegetarian," "veggie," "vegan," "plant based" or similar (plant-based).	Passed in 2020. Check source for the current code section.	Ga. House Budget & Research Office, 2020 session brief (SB 211)
Idaho	Cell-cultivated animal protein must say "lab-grown," "cell-cultivated" or "cell-cultured" on the front panel, and on menus. It can't use cut names like "steak," "roast" or "brisket" unless USDA authorizes them.	Enacted 2026	Idaho Code ch. 37-16
Iowa	Cultivated, insect-based and plant-based products can't use a meat term on the package unless a qualifying term is close to it.	In effect	Iowa Code ch. 137E
Kansas	A meat analog that uses a meat term must carry a prominent disclaimer such as "meatless," "meat-free," "vegan" or "plant-based."	In effect	K.S.A. 65-665
Kentucky	Food is misbranded if it's represented as meat and contains animal tissue grown from cell cultures.	In effect (since June 27, 2019)	KRS 217.035(15)
Missouri	Bars misrepresenting a product as meat if it isn't from harvested production livestock or poultry.	In effect (since Aug. 28, 2018). It has been challenged in court. Check source.	RSMo 265.494(7)
North Dakota	Cell-cultured protein can't be sold as a meat food product. It must be labeled as cell-cultured and can't use packaging that is the same as, or deceptively similar to, meat packaging.	In effect	N.D.C.C. § 19-02.1-12.1
Ohio	Manufactured-protein products (cultivated, plant- or insect-based) that use a meat term need a conspicuous qualifying term close by. There are similar rules for egg substitutes.	In effect (since March 20, 2026)	Ohio Rev. Code § 3715.602
Oklahoma	Cultivated, plant- and insect-protein products that use a meat term need a qualifying term close by.	In effect (since Nov. 1, 2025)	Okla. House (HB 1126)
South Carolina	Cell-cultivated food can't be labeled as beef, poultry, fish or another animal protein it resembles. Retail sales are exempt unless the retailer is also the manufacturer.	In effect	S.C. Code § 47-17-510
Tennessee	Cell-cultured food products can't be labeled as "meat" or a "meat food product."	In effect (2025 law). Check source for details.	SB 931 (Pub. Ch. 450, 2025)
Utah	Food containing a cultivated meat product, or a plant- or insect-based meat substitute, must carry a label term that clearly tells shoppers so.	In effect	Utah Code § 4-5-201
Virginia	A product containing manufactured protein (cultivated, plant, insect or fungus) that is labeled with a meat term needs a prominent qualifying term close by.	In effect. Check source for the start date.	Va. Code § 3.2-5402.1
West Virginia	Plant-based "analogue" products and cell-cultured products must carry a qualifying term such as "plant-based," "meatless," "cell-cultured" or "lab-grown" next to the name.	In effect	W. Va. Code § 19-39-2
Wyoming	Cell-cultured products must say "containing cell cultured product." Plant-based products must say "vegetarian," "veggie," "vegan," "plant based" or similar.	In effect	Wyo. Stat. § 35-7-119(e)(ii) (as amended by SF0084, 2025)
Florida (plant-based)	Requires rules against selling plant-based products mislabeled as meat or poultry.	Not in effect: it starts only if 11 of 14 named Southern states pass similar labeling laws.	Fla. Stat. § 500.93

See what applies where you live on our state pages, which also cover each state's meat inspection program and official farm directories.

Not every state is listed. The National Agricultural Law Center's compilation (last updated April 7, 2026) also lists labeling laws in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, among others. Earlier labeling laws in Louisiana and Oklahoma have also been in court. We couldn't confirm those details against an official source today, so check the compilation and your state's legislature website. Bills in other states, and federal bills in Congress, may change this picture.

3. What to look for on a package

A short checklist you can use in the store:

Product name. Read the full name, not just the big word. "Plant-based burger," "cell-cultivated chicken" and "beef burger" are different products.
Qualifying words. Look for "plant-based," "meatless," "vegan," "cell-cultivated," "cell-cultured," "lab-grown" or "imitation" near the name. Many states require them.
Ingredient list. Ingredients are listed from most to least. Plant-based products list their plant sources, such as soy, pea or wheat protein.
Inspection mark. A USDA mark of inspection with an "EST." or "P-" number means the product was made under federal inspection. A state mark means state inspection. "Not for Sale" means custom-exempt meat that shouldn't be sold.
Grade shield. Prime, Choice or Select is a voluntary quality grade, not a safety check.
Raising claims. "Grass-fed," "pasture-raised" and "no antibiotics" are voluntary claims. Look for a third-party certifier's name if you want independent verification.
Certifications that name a certifier. The USDA organic seal requires a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Kosher and halal symbols come from religious certifying organizations, not USDA. A trustworthy certification names who certified it.
Country of origin. Under COOL, lamb, goat, chicken and seafood at retail show their origin. "Product of USA" on meat now means born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.
Still not sure? Ask the seller. A good butcher or farmer will tell you where the meat came from and how it was processed.

For more detail, see our article How to Read Meat Labels.

4. How to get involved

Anyone can take part in how food rules are made, whatever their view. These steps are neutral. We don't recommend a position, a party or a candidate.

Comment on proposed federal rules

When an agency like FSIS or the FDA proposes a rule, it publishes a notice in the Federal Register. The notice explains the proposal and gives a deadline for comments.
You can read the proposal and submit a comment at Regulations.gov. Search by topic (for example "cell-cultured labeling") or by docket number, then choose "Comment."
Useful comments are specific. Say which part of the proposal you're responding to, share facts or personal experience, and keep it respectful. Comments are usually public, so don't include private information.
The FDA accepts comments on its guidance documents at any time. For example, comments on the plant-based labeling draft guidance go to docket FDA-2022-D-1102. (FDA)

Contact your lawmakers

U.S. House: Find your representative by ZIP code.
U.S. Senate: Contact your senators.
State legislators: USAGov's Find and contact elected officials page links to state legislator finders. Your state legislature's website also lists members and bills.
Track federal bills at Congress.gov, and state bills on your legislature's website.
When you write or call, say you're a constituent, name the bill number if there is one, and keep it short and polite.

Attend a public hearing

State legislative committees usually hold public hearings on bills, and many let the public testify in person or in writing. Check your legislature's committee calendar.
Federal agencies sometimes hold public meetings on food topics. FSIS and the FDA announce them on their websites and in the Federal Register.

Report a misleading label

Meat, poultry or egg products: report to USDA FSIS through its Report a Problem with Food page, which links to the online complaint form. Keep the package, and note the brand, product name, package codes, the establishment (EST) number, and where and when you bought it.
Other foods, including plant-based products: report to the FDA. Its consumer complaint page points to the HHS Safety Reporting Portal (SmartHub).
Country-of-origin labels: AMS takes COOL complaints through its COOL page.
Restaurant food: contact your city, county or state health department.

Support local farms and butchers

Buy from local butchers, farms, ranches and farmers markets, and ask them how their meat is raised and processed.
Search our directory, or USDA's Local Food Directories.
Know a business that sells meat from raised or harvested animals? Suggest a business and we'll invite them to list for free.

Questions or corrections? Email realmeatdirectory@gmail.com. We update this page when laws or court decisions change.

Sources

Sources checked October 18, 2026.

Find a business in the directory → Browse by state →

This page is general educational information, not legal advice. It does not take a position on any law, bill, party or candidate. Regulations differ by state and change over time, so check current official sources. Links to outside websites are provided for information only; Real Meat Directory is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.