Cattlemen want label clarity

The United States Cattlemen’s Association wants labels that clearly inform consumers about the difference between beef from cattle and beef from cells cultured in laboratories.

They are petitioning the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service to make the labeling regulation before Memphis Meats or others start marketing “beef” generated from laboratory-cultured cells.

Tyson Foods Inc., the world’s second-largest meat-packing company, is one of the investors in Memphis Meats which has so far grown enough cells to make beef-like products, but the costs are about $35,000 per pound.