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Committee backs bill requiring clear labeling for cell‑cultured food products
Summary
Senate File 239 would define cell‑cultured food and require plainly visible labeling on packaged goods and menus; the committee adopted amendments and recommended the bill to pass and be sent to the Senate floor.
Senate File 239, presented March 11, would define cell‑cultured food as food grown from animal or plant cells in a controlled environment and require labeling that clearly indicates when a product contains cell‑cultured ingredients. The bill also requires restaurants and other establishments to indicate on menus which items may contain cell‑cultured food.
Senator Draheim (bill author) emphasized he is not opposed to cell‑cultured products but wants consumers to know what they are buying and eating. The committee adopted an A5 amendment, and witnesses from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and Minnesota Farmers Union testified in support of transparent labeling and a level playing field for producers. Hannah Bernhardt (Medicine Creek Farm, Pine County MFU) said direct‑market producers rely on transparency and that labeling helps consumers distinguish farm‑raised from lab‑grown products. Hunter Peterson (Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation) said his organization supports truthful labeling and noted the bill defines cell‑culture products as food rather than meat.
Senator Holstrom moved that the bill as amended be recommended to pass and be sent to the Senate floor; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
Supporters said the bill promotes consumer information and protects producers who market traditional farm‑raised products; opponents were not recorded in the transcript. Several members raised questions about whether cell‑cultured products are currently available in Minnesota markets; the author and witnesses said the products remain relatively expensive and uncommon locally.
Next steps: SF239 was recommended to pass and was referred to the Senate floor. The committee noted zero fiscal cost in the committee’s fiscal note and agreed the measure could move forward for further consideration.
Representative quotes from the hearing: Senator Draheim said, "I am not against lab grown or cell cultured meat... I just want labeling so that we understand what we're feeding our families." Hunter Peterson told the committee the Farm Bureau favors "truthful transparent labeling" and supported the bill’s consumer‑information goals.
