Copied from Keeping it Stuggy on FB

December 7 at 5:35 PM ·

Italy Becomes the First Country to Ban Lab-Grown Meat — What You Need to Know

Italy has officially passed a nationwide law making it illegal to produce, import, or sell lab-grown, or cultivated, meat. The government cites the move as a measure to protect public health, preserve traditional culinary practices, and support the country’s farming sector. Yet, the details are more nuanced than many social media posts suggest.

What the law actually prohibits

Under Law 172/2023, foods created from animal cell cultures—the technology behind cultivated meat—are banned. The law also bars using these products as animal feed and forbids companies from bringing them into Italy for commercial purposes.

However, the law does not affect:

Standard processed foods

Artificial sweeteners or food additives

Plant-based meat alternatives (though new labeling regulations now apply to these products)

Cultivated meat wasn’t even available yet

Europe has not approved lab-grown meat for public sale, so Italy enacted the ban before any products reached supermarket shelves.

Regarding “Bill Gates’ lab-grown meat” claims

The law does not mention Bill Gates or any specific investors. While Gates has funded alternative-protein startups like Upside Foods, Impossible Foods, and Beyond Meat, the restrictions apply to all cultivated meat producers, regardless of backing.

Why the ban is controversial

Critics argue it:

Stifles scientific innovation

Could conflict with EU food-safety regulations

Might face legal challenges in Europe

Limits consumer choice before the products are even on the market

Supporters counter that it:

Protects farmers and traditional food culture

Safeguards public health until more long-term research is available

A global first

While some U.S. states have passed similar bans, Italy is the first country to implement a nationwide prohibition on cultivated meat.

Bottom line:

Italy did not ban all synthetic foods, nor was Bill Gates personally targeted. The law specifically blocks meat made from animal cell cultures, effectively shutting the door on lab-grown meat before it ever reached Italian consumers.