A bill that would outlaw laboratory-produced meat and other synthetic foods has the support of Italy’s right-wing government, highlighting the country’s culinary heritage and commitment to public health.
A violation of the ban might result in fines of up to €60,000 (£53,000) if the plans are approved.
The minister of agriculture and food sovereignty under a new name, Francesco Lollobrigida, spoke on the value of Italian cuisine.
The measure was applauded by the farmers’ group.
But, it was a setback for certain animal welfare organizations, who had promoted lab-produced meat as a solution to problems like preserving food safety and the environment from carbon emissions.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the 500,000 signatories to a petition that Coldiretti and other agriculture advocacy groups have gathered in recent months to safeguard “natural food vs. synthetic food.”
