Meat is Dead

Authors

• Melissa D. Mortazavi, University of Oklahoma College of Law

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Publication Title

Drake Law Review

Abstract

The legal and cultural landscape surrounding meat in the United States is evolving as plant-based alternatives, GMO farm animals, and cell-cultivated meat move from test tube to table. While global demand for meat rises amid environmental, ethical, and resource challenges, cell-cultivated meat emerges as a scientifically viable alternative, offering identical nutritional value without the drawbacks of conventional livestock production. Despite federal regulatory approval from USDA and FDA, multiple states have enacted unusually restrictive laws—including bans— targeting cell-cultivated meat. These are motivated largely by economic protectionism, but also deeper cultural anxieties tied to tradition and identity. This Article argues that food law must incorporate social and cultural meanings of meat beyond safety and economic concerns to effectively navigate emerging food technologies. Ultimately, the cell-cultivated meat controversy reflects a broader cultural conflict, highlighting the complex interplay between law, identity, and food.

Volume

73

Issue

1

First Page

113

Last Page

162

Recommended Citation

Melissa D. Mortazavi, Meat is Dead, 73 Drake L. Rev. 113 (2026).