Updated October 18, 2026
Rules for newer protein products are still being written, at both the federal and state level. This is a snapshot as of October 2026. Because the laws are changing quickly, check the linked official sources for the latest.
Cell-cultivated (also called cell-cultured) products are grown from real animal cells. Real Meat Directory uses "real meat" as its own shorthand for meat from raised or harvested animals, so these products fall outside the directory by our definition. That isn't a claim that they're "fake" or don't come from animals.
Cell-cultivated meat and poultry: two federal agencies
Since a 2019 agreement, the FDA and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) share oversight of foods made from the cells of livestock and poultry. The FDA reviews each product through a pre-market consultation and oversees cell collection, cell banks and cell growth. Oversight moves to FSIS at harvest, when the cells are removed from the growing vessels. From there, FSIS oversees processing and labeling, and the facility needs a USDA grant of inspection. Foods made from cells of most seafood are regulated by the FDA alone.
All labels for cell-cultured meat and poultry must be approved by FSIS before use. They cannot use the "generic" approval that many ordinary meat labels qualify for. In June 2023, USDA approved the label term "cell-cultivated chicken" and issued the first grants of inspection to two California companies, allowing limited sales in restaurants. FSIS has said it intends to publish specific labeling regulations for these products and has asked the public for comments.
Plant-based alternatives: FDA guidance
Plant-based products that resemble meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or dairy are generally regulated by the FDA. In January 2025, the FDA released draft guidance recommending that names identify the main plant source, such as "soy-based" or "black bean mushroom veggie patties," and that labels not suggest animal ingredients are present. All plant sources must appear in the ingredient list. The FDA notes that this guidance is a non-binding draft.
State laws (as of October 2026)
This section summarizes state laws as of October 2026. Several are temporary, some are being challenged in court, and any of them may change. States have moved in different directions. According to the National Agricultural Law Center, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska and Texas have passed laws banning cell-cultured meat. Indiana's ban runs until June 30, 2027 and Texas's until September 1, 2027. South Dakota has a temporary ban from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. Florida's ban has been challenged in court. In March 2026, a federal appeals court declined to block it while the case continues, so the ban is in effect for now but the litigation isn't over.
Many other states have chosen labeling rules instead of bans. As of its April 2026 update, the Center counted 21 states with laws on labeling alternative proteins. Some states bar these products from using meat terms. Others allow meat terms if the label adds a qualifier such as "cell-cultivated," "lab-grown" or "plant-based." Georgia, for example, requires a clear disclaimer such as "lab-grown" or "plant-based" on products represented as meat.
See the full state-by-state table on our Meat Laws & How to Get Involved page.
What this means for shoppers
In most cases, a cell-cultivated or plant-based product will say so on the package, often in the product name. If you are not sure, read the full product name and ingredient list, or ask the seller.
Sources
- FDA: Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
- USDA FSIS: Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
- USDA FSIS Directive 7800.1: Establishments Producing Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Food Products
- Food Dive: Cultivated meat to enter US market with full USDA approval (June 21, 2023)
- FDA: Draft Guidance, Labeling of Plant-Based Alternatives to Animal-Derived Foods (January 2025)
- FDA: Plant-Based Milk and Animal Food Alternatives
- National Agricultural Law Center: Alternative Protein Laws State Compilation
- DTN/Progressive Farmer: 11th Circuit: Florida's Lab Meat Ban Not Preempted by Federal Poultry Law (March 2026)
Sources checked October 2026.