Florida has officially implemented a ban on cell-based meat, effective Monday 1 July.

Just before the ban came into effect, Upside Foods hosted a "Freedom of Food" pop-up event on 27 June atop The Annex rooftop in Miami. The event aimed to celebrate food innovation and advocate for consumer choice in shaping a sustainable future. It was also the first time cell-based meat was available for the public to taste for free.

In May, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1084, making it illegal to produce and sell cell-based meat in Florida. Critics argue this move ignores food safety experts, restricts consumer options, stifles US innovation and prevents Florida from entering this growing industry.

Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of Upside Foods, said: "We believe that cultivated meat is essential for the future of food, and people should have the right to choose what they eat. The purpose of this event was to give Floridians a taste of cultivated meat – something the state is, unfortunately, preventing them from enjoying and benefiting from, both in terms of innovation and economics. Despite Florida's ban, events like this highlight the increasing interest in cultivated meat and its crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future of food."

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