The politics and science of lab-produced cultivated fish and meat in the U.S.

The regulatory landscape for cultured meat continues to evolve at the federal level. On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “no questions” letter to Wildtype, Inc., for its cultured salmon product. This letter indicates that the FDA has no further questions regarding the manufacturer’s safety determination for the product’s intended use before it enters the market.

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On June 20, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 261 (SB 261), prohibiting the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, offer for sale, or sale of cell-cultured protein in Texas, effective September 1, 2025. 

With this action, Texas becomes the latest state to ban or restrict the sale of cultivated meat. Other states with enacted bans include Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska.

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On February 18, 2025, the North Carolina general assembly proposed H.B. 134, which would require companies selling cultured meat products to clearly indicate the products’ cell-cultured origins on packaging. 

The regulatory environment for cultured meat products remains dynamic, with significant variation across states and ongoing federal oversight. 

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