A second state law banning cell-grown meat is being challenged in federal court. The Institute for Justice (IJ), in collaboration with startups Wildtype and UPSIDE Foods, is suing Texas in an effort to strike down the newly enacted ban on the sale of cultivated meat in the Lone Star State. IJ and UPSIDE Foods are also the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Florida, which enacted a similar ban.
In the filing, a preliminary injunction is sought to block Texas from enforcing SB 261 against Wildtype and UPSIDE, so both companies have the option of making their products available to willing Texas consumers while the case proceeds. IJ was not able to obtain a preliminary injunction in the Florida litigation.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 261 into law on June 20. The law, which took effect on September 1, 2025, imposes a total ban on the sale of cultivated meat in the state of Texas. Violations carry steep penalties, including fines of up to $25,000 per day and even jail time.
