Lab-grown meat looks, tastes, and smells like beef. But not everyone is convinced that it’s as good as the real thing. States like Nebraska are pushing to ban lab-grown meat. Many state governors believe lab-grown meat will take business away from ranchers. But some farmers aren’t worried. 

There are four generations of cattle ranchers in Dan Morgan’s family. His farm sends beef to all 50 states and six countries. He doesn’t think lab-grown meat should be banned from store shelves. 

“It’s up to [customers] to make the decision about what they buy and eat,” says Mr. Morgan.

Nebraska lawmakers want to ban the creation and sale of lab-grown products. About a dozen other states have the same plan. Lab-grown meat is grown from the cells of real animals. Those cells grow and divide into more cells, making more meat.

About twenty-four companies are trying to make such meat. The government has approved Upside Foods and Good Meat to sell cultivated chicken in the United States. Still, neither of the companies are quite ready to sell lab-grown meat to grocery stores. 

The Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, and the Nebraska Pork Producers aren’t worried that lab-grown meat will put farmers out of business. That’s because the demand for meat isn’t going away anytime soon. 

But those groups want lab-grown meat to have special labels at grocery stores. That way, people will know it’s not regular meat. Lawmakers are working on bills to require these labels. That is, if the products ever make it to store shelves.

Until then, shoppers will have to ask, “Where’s the (lab) beef?”

We don’t need to fear lab-grown meat. But it’s worthwhile to think seriously about it. The Lord cares for our bodies. (Psalm 139:14) That means we should be thoughtful about what we put inside of them.