Red states banned this lab pork. Berkeley Bowl just dished it up.

"I can still taste the aftertaste of pork fat, and it reminds me of all the times I ate pork products before going vegan. The feel of it tastes as if I ate real pork. It's crazy."

"Advocates argue that the budding industry could reduce animal slaughter, the environmental cost of meat production and food insecurity. But the startups face big obstacles like plunging investment, state bans and consumer hesitancy."

"Beyond limited restaurant sales, this winter's fleeting series of tasting events at Berkeley Bowl marks the only times cultivated meat of any kind has ever appeared in a U.S. grocery store."

The Bay Area has emerged as a hub for cultivated meat technology, with companies like Mission Barns developing lab-grown products that combine plant protein with cultured animal fat. A vegan taster at Berkeley Bowl described the product as having authentic meat texture and pork fat flavor. Cultivated meat advocates argue the technology could reduce animal slaughter, environmental costs of meat production, and food insecurity. However, the industry faces significant obstacles including declining investment, state bans, and consumer hesitancy. Limited tasting events at Berkeley Bowl represent the first time cultivated meat has appeared in a U.S. grocery store, though widespread consumer availability remains uncertain.

Read at SFGATE