WisconsinPackaged foods with lab-grown meat would need clear labels
The failed measure proposed clear labels for packaged foods with lab-grown meat and limits on serving it as a meat substitute in restaurants and state institutions.
What it does
Packaged food sold by someone who knows it contains lab-grown meat must say so clearly and include a complete, accurate ingredient list. Each separately wrapped part containing it must also be marked.
A restaurant or other public eating place could sell lab-grown meat as a meat substitute only if the customer orders it.
State institutions could not knowingly serve lab-grown meat as a meat substitute to students, patients, or inmates. An exception allows it for a specific patient or inmate when a physician directs it for health reasons and the superintendent orders it.
A person who breaks these rules could face a fine, jail time, or both. The listed penalties are higher for later offenses.
Argument forClear labels could help shoppers spot lab-grown meat in packaged foods, including in separately wrapped parts of a package.
Argument againstPeople in state institutions could have fewer choices because staff could not knowingly serve lab-grown meat as a meat substitute, except in a limited health situation.
More detail
A person who knows packaged food contains lab-grown meat must label it clearly and list its ingredients. This applies to packaged food offered for sale by someone who knows it contains lab-grown meat. The label must say “lab-grown meat” in lettering at least as large as any other lettering on the label, in a color that clearly stands out from the background. The ingredient list must be complete and accurate. If a package holds separately wrapped parts, each part containing lab-grown meat must also carry the phrase in lettering at least 20-point type. The enrolled text sets January 1, 2027, as the effective date, but the measure failed to pass over the governor’s objections.
A public eating place may sell food it knows contains lab-grown meat as a meat substitute only if the customer orders it. This covers food sold at a public eating place when the seller knows it contains lab-grown meat. The restriction applies when the food is offered as a substitute for meat. The enrolled text sets January 1, 2027, as the effective date, but the measure failed to pass over the governor’s objections.
A state institution may not knowingly serve lab-grown meat as a meat substitute to students, patients, or inmates, with a narrow health exception. This covers students, patients, or inmates served by a state institution. The exception applies only when a specific patient or inmate needs it for health reasons, the superintendent orders it, and the physician in charge directs it. The enrolled text sets January 1, 2027, as the effective date, but the measure failed to pass over the governor’s objections.
A person who violates these rules may face a fine, jail time, or both. These penalties apply to a person who violates the section’s food sale, labeling, or service rules. For a first offense, the fine may be $100 to $500 and jail time may be up to three months. For each later offense, the fine may be $500 to $1,000 and jail time may be six months to one year. The enrolled text sets January 1, 2027, as the effective date, but the measure failed to pass over the governor’s objections.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 27Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-27-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Feb 20Report correctly enrolled on 2-20-2026Minor
- Feb 18Action ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18Senate Amendment 1 concurred in
- Feb 12Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)Major
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 11Read a third time and concurred in as amendedPassed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Senate Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 11Senator Drake added as a cosponsor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 9Available for scheduling
- Feb 9Withdrawn from committee on Agriculture and Revenue and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)Minor
- Feb 3Representative Goodwin added as a coauthor
- Jan 30Representative Goodwin withdrawn as a coauthorMajor
- Jan 30Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator QuinnMinor
- Jan 23Read first time and referred to committee on Agriculture and RevenueMinor
- Jan 20Received from AssemblyMinor
- Jan 20Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 20Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Jan 20Rules suspended
- Jan 20Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 20Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Jan 20Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 14Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
- 2025
- Dec 23Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 4, Noes 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Dec 23Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 4, Noes 1Minor
- Dec 23Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0Minor
- Dec 18Executive action taken
- Dec 17Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative MosesMinor
- Dec 16Public hearing held
- Dec 4Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 15Read first time and referred to Committee on Consumer ProtectionMinor
- Oct 15Introduced by Representatives Moses, Sortwell, Dittrich, Gundrum, Goodwin, Wichgers, Goeben, Kreibich, Behnke, Melotik, Murphy and Allen; cosponsored by Senators Quinn, Nass, Marklein and SpreitzerIntroduced
- Dec 23Referred to committee on RulesMinor
Consumer ProtectionAgriculture