(The Center Square)–Texas will become the seventh state to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat in September.
Florida was the first, followed by Alabama last year. This year, five more states, including Texas, followed.
They did so after the Trump administration took the opposite approach. In 2019, the first Trump administration was the first in U.S. history to begin the process to authorize lab-grown chicken, seafood and beef in the U.S.
In 2023, under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. became the second country in the world to approve the production and sale of lab-grown meat.
Recognizing the importance of the Texas cattle industry and health concerns expressed by Texans, state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, filed SB 261 to ban the sale of lab-grown meat in Texas. The bill, which includes civil and criminal penalties, received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last month. It becomes effective Sept. 1.
“The introduction of lab-grown meat could disrupt traditional livestock markets, affecting rural economies and family farms,” Perry’s bill analysis states. “There are concerns over transparency in labeling, risk of contamination, and the long-term health impacts of consuming cell-cultured products.” The measure prohibits the production and sale of cell-cultured protein products in Texas “to protect consumers and support traditional agriculture.”
“Cell-cultured protein is made by harvesting animal cells and growing them in a bioreactor to produce tissue-based food products,” the analysis explains.
Earlier this year, the Texas legislature passed a resolution officially recognizing a “State Steak of Texas,” highlighting Texas as “the birthplace of many iconic culinary traditions, including those tied to cattle drives, chuck wagons, and steak houses, all of which have cemented steak as an integral part of the state’s culture and cuisine,” The Center Square reported.
Texas remains the undisputable leader with the most beef cattle in the U.S., representing nearly 15% of the national beef market, The Center Square reported. Texas cattle, including beef and dairy, are Texas’ top agricultural commodity, representing $15.5 billion in market value in 2022, according to state agriculture data.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first governor in the country to sign a lab-grown meat ban last year in an effort to protect the state’s cattle and agricultural industry. Alabama wasn’t far behind.
This year, five more states followed. In February, South Dakota’s governor signed its ban into law. In March, Mississippi’s ban was approved. In May, Nebraska’s ban was signed into law. In July, Indiana implemented a two-year ban on lab-grown meat.
Georgia attempted to implement a ban this year, HB 201, which went nowhere this legislative session. Arizona passed a bill this year, HB 2739, requiring labeling on all cell-grown products.
State legislative action was taken after the first Trump administration’s departments of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. The regulatory framework directed the FDA to oversee “cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation.”
By 2023, the Biden administration continued the Trump administration’s work. Its FDA and USDA approved California-based Upside Foods and Good Meat to sell cell-based chicken products, which are currently being sold in restaurants nationwide.
Upside Foods sued Florida last year arguing its ban is unconstitutional. A federal judge allowed the lawsuit to go forward this April. It remains unclear if the California company or others like it will sue the seven states that have so far implemented bans.
Last month, the second Trump administration continued the efforts it began in 2019 when the FDA and USDA approved a San Francisco-based cell-based seafood company Wildtype to market its products that are currently being served in restaurants. It was approved after agri-giant Cargill and partners invested more than $100 million to launch an “alternative to salmon,” Just Food reported.
Although the U.S. began its process in 2019, Singapore was the first country in the world to officially authorize the production of lab-grown meat in 2020. The U.S. was the second in 2023.
Last year, Israel became the third after an Israeli company, Aleph Farms, received approval to sell lab-grown meat in Israel and the Middle East. Several European countries are also moving toward approving lab grown meat, according to several news reports.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.