The Florida Legislature recently evaluated a proposal concerning the integration of vaccines into food products. The bill (SB 196), introduced by Sarasota Sen. Joe Gruters, aims to restrict the incorporation of vaccines into fruits and vegetables in Florida. It also seeks to modify the definition of "drug" to encompass "food" as per Florida law.
Research is ongoing to determine if mRNA vaccine DNA can be embedded within plant cells, allowing these plants to potentially produce enough mRNA to substitute traditional vaccine administration. This technology, foundational to primary COVID-19 vaccines, could enable plants like lettuce and spinach to generate vaccines.
Gruters' bill specifies the mRNA vaccine as one that uses lab-generated mRNA to activate the human immune system. The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries passed the bill unanimously, with no remarks or opposition from the committee or public attendees.
Sen. Alexis Calatayud of Miami-Dade introduced an amendment to the bill to prohibit cosmetics containing ten specific chemicals that release formaldehyde. Scott Shelley from the Florida Retail Federation expressed "significant concerns" regarding this amendment, particularly about lead and the broad impact on products.
A related bill (HB 525) has been proposed in the House by Brevard County's Monique Miller. During its introduction, Miller emphasized that foods with integrated vaccine materials "must be subject to the same regulation as a vaccine. To do otherwise undermines medical freedom, and the basic decency of consumer transparency."
Source: Florida Phoenix