DES MOINES, IOWA — On May 15, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law prohibiting the misbranding of certain food products, including lab-grown meat.

Reynolds signed SF 2391, which detailed new requirements for meat alternative items.

“This legislation prohibits companies from exploiting the trust consumers have with our livestock producers and misleading consumers into buying products they don’t want,” Reynolds said. “This is about transparency. It’s about the common-sense idea that a product labeled chicken, beef or pork should actually come from an animal.” 

Starting on July 1, plant-based and lab-grown products sold in Iowa stores will need to have a label that clearly states words like “lab-grown,” “fake,” “meatless,” “imitation” or “vegan.”

Food processors and restaurants could face civil penalties between $500 and $10,000 per offense if they do not comply with the new law.

The legislation also instructs school districts, community colleges and some other public institutions not to purchase cultivated meat.

Earlier in May Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a similar law on May 7.