US Senators Mike Rounds and Jon Tester have introduced the School Lunch Integrity Act of 2024 to alter the nutritional requirements set by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, with a proposed prohibition on cell-cultivated meat in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

This bill is backed by cattle and livestock associations against using cultivated meat in school meals, citing unknown long-term health effects and safety concerns.

Analyst QuickTake: While there has always been scrutiny surrounding cultivated meat, as of late, it has ramped up with governmental bodies pushing for total bans. Arizona and Florida have proposed bills banning production and distribution, while a coalition of 12 EU countries have advocated for a review of the cultivated meat regulatory approval framework.