Board adopts state-directed policy barring cultivated (lab-grown) meat from school meals

The Pickerington Local Schools Board of Education on March 23 waived the first reading and adopted a new food-services policy, after staff said the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce School Nutrition Program directed districts to adopt language concerning cultivated or "misbranded" proteins.

"This policy prevents us from buying and serving lab-grown meat or lab-grown product," said Mr. Weinheimer while introducing the change and explaining the policy text that appeared in the meeting packet. He told trustees that suppliers currently contacted by the district do not offer cultivated proteins, and he clarified that plant-based products such as Impossible Burgers are not affected by the rule.

Board members voted unanimously to adopt the policy at the meeting. Staff said the district received notice of the new rule on March 2 and had to take board action during March to comply with the state program's timetable.

Next steps: district food-services staff will implement the policy language and continue supplier checks; the policy language appears in the board packet with additions marked in green.