(WHTM) — Lab-grown meat isn’t available yet in the United States, and if some state lawmakers have their way, that will continue to hold true for Pennsylvania as well.

Plant-based and other substitutes for meat have grown in popularity worldwide in recent years, and it sparked the question of whether lab-grown meat is the next safe and convenient alternative.

The production of lab-grown meat starts in the same place any natural beef does: from an animal. Alternatively, scientists extract the cells from these animals and use them to grow the product in a lab. It may seem convenient, but some Pennsylvania lawmakers are against it.

“We have some phenomenally talented farmers and ranchers in Pennsylvania. They do a really good job with growing us a real quality product. So, I don’t think that Pennsylvania is ready to have this,” said Republican Representative Tina Pickett. “Are we sure we would know what that would be? Are we sure of what we’re eating when that happens? I don’t think at this point we have any evidence of such a thing.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of lab-grown meat at two California-based companies in June 2023, but it is currently unavailable in grocery stores. Still, it could be on the way for many states. Pickett recently proposed a bill banning lab-grown meat in Pennsylvania before it hits shelves.

“I just thought we need to say no at this point,” she said.

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Mallie Shuster, owner of Oaks Farm in Newville, weighed in on the topic as someone who raises cattle and pigs.

“I think that it is a solution. Looking for a problem. I don’t see where it’s necessary to solve any food crisis. There’s enough food waste in this country and in the developed world. It doesn’t it doesn’t solve anything,” he said.

Shuster also believes lab-grown meat could impact local farmers’ sales and take away jobs.

“You’ve got, you know, tons of people employed in agriculture that, you know, now all of a sudden we take a job that is, you know, it’s skilled labor…it’s also skilled labor that doesn’t require, you know, large amounts of post-secondary education,” he added.

Both Shuster and Pickett believe Pennsylvania needs to put its research dollars and efforts behind more critical issues.

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