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Subcommittee approves broader restrictions on labeling and sale of cultured meat products
Summary
Following testimony from beef and poultry producers and industry representatives, the Agriculture Subcommittee voted 5-0 to advance bill 55096, which would expand existing labeling rules and add prohibitions and penalties for artificial or cell‑cultivated food products.
Representative Patrick Hadden introduced bill 55096 as an expansion of earlier laws aimed at preventing misleading labeling of cell‑cultured meat. He said the proposal would extend protections to all "artificial or self‑cultivated food products" and impose additional prohibitions and penalties to protect South Carolina producers from unfair competition.
Multiple producers testified in favor. Sally Harrison of Yawn Family Farms said, “We stand firmly in support of legislation that would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, or distribute artificial or cell‑cultivated food products in this state.” Dickie Harper, a York County beef producer, and other witnesses urged the committee to protect traditional producers and to ensure consumers receive clear information.
David Rush identified himself as the industry representative (transcript referenced an industry group; corrected below) and presented economic figures for South Carolina’s poultry sector, stating the industry contributes about $5 billion annually, employs about 37,000 people and generates roughly $400 million in state and local tax revenue. Rush and other witnesses raised food‑safety and environmental concerns about scaling cultured products; during his remarks Rush cited a published list he described as “53 food safety concerns” and warned of contamination risks in large bioreactors.
Committee members noted this bill builds on prior work (including a 2019 measure) and said the legislature must continue to adapt as new products emerge. A motion to pass the bill was made, seconded and the committee held a roll-call vote: Representatives Lucas Atkinson, Doug Gillum, Patrick Hadden, Luke Rankin and Bill Chumley voted aye. The chair said the bill will proceed to the next stage.
Clarifications and caveats: Several witnesses asserted health or environmental harms associated with cultured products; the committee did not receive technical testimony from an independent food‑safety regulator during this hearing and did not substantiate all claims. Economic figures were reported by an industry witness and were not independently verified during the session.
What’s next: Bill 55096 passed the subcommittee 5-0 and will be scheduled for further consideration by the full committee.
