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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri Prohibits Sale of Cell-Cultured Protein for Human Consumption
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsors: Ann Kelley and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
The Missouri General Assembly introduced House Bill 2501, which makes it unlawful to sell or offer for sale for human consumption within the state. The measure defines cell-cultured protein as food derived from harvesting animal cells and artificially replicating them in a growth medium, and it subjects violators to existing statutory penalties. Additionally, the bill empowers the Department of Health and Senior Services to issue implementing rules that may exceed federal requirements.
Food manufacturers and retailers operating in Missouri face an outright ban on marketing or selling lab-grown meat products, backed by statutory penalties for non-compliance.
- Cell-cultured protein, often referred to as lab-grown or cultivated meat, is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment rather than raising livestock. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Food manufacturers and retailers
Food establishments and sellers are prohibited from offering cell-cultured protein products for human consumption and face statutory penalties for violations.
Department of Health and Senior Services
The department is tasked with promulgating implementing rules and enforcing the new prohibition.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is considered cell-cultured protein under this bill?
Can state regulations on cell-cultured protein be stricter than federal rules?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 17, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State-Level Divergence from Federal Standards
The bill explicitly allows the state health department to enforce rules that are stricter than federal guidelines regarding food definitions.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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