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Episode 82

Oklahoma Passes Law Requiring Clear Labels for Lab-Grown and Plant-Based Meats

Oklahoma joins the list of states to enact meat labeling laws. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt last week signed into law a measure requiring manufactured protein products to be labeled differently from meat.

House Bill 1126 requires food manufacturers, distributors and retailers to clearly disclose that cell-cultivated or cultured products or those that come from a lab, plants or insect proteins are not meat. Those convicted of false advertising could face a misdemeanor.

The law places the burden of proof on the manufacturer and not the retailer. Oklahoma’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry would be responsible for investigating complaints that food products are falsely advertised or misbranded as meat products. The act takes effect Nov. 1.

Several U.S. states have enacted or proposed laws regulating the labeling of meat and alternative protein products, particularly focusing on plant-based and cell-cultured (lab-grown) meats. These laws aim to ensure transparency for consumers and protect traditional meat industries.AP News+7The Guardian+7National Agricultural Law Center+7

States with Enacted Meat Labeling Laws

Missouri: In 2018, Missouri became the first state to pass a law prohibiting misrepresentation of products as meat if they are not derived from harvested livestock or poultry. Wikipedia
Arkansas: Enacted Act 501, which restricts the use of traditional meat terms on plant-based and cell-cultured products. Wikipedia+1NYU Environmental Law Journal+1
Louisiana: Passed legislation banning the use of meat terminology on products not derived from animals. Wikipedia+1NYU Environmental Law Journal+1
Mississippi: Implemented laws requiring clear labeling of alternative meat products and, more recently, passed a bill banning the manufacture and sale of lab-grown meat. Big Rapids Pioneer+4WIRED+4NYU Environmental Law Journal+4
Florida: In May 2024, Florida became the first state to ban the manufacture and sale of cell-cultured meat, defining it as any meat product produced from cultured animal cells. Penn State Agricultural Law Center+3National Agricultural Law Center+3Houston Chronicle+3
Alabama: Followed Florida by enacting similar legislation banning the production and sale of lab-grown meat. National Agricultural Law Center+7WIRED+7Big Rapids Pioneer+7

States with Proposed or Pending Meat Label Legislation

Michigan: Introduced bills aiming to prohibit labeling lab-grown meat substitutes as “meat” and to ban the manufacture and sale of cultivated meat derived from animal cell cultures. Big Rapids Pioneer
Nebraska: Governor Jim Pillen proposed a ban on lab-grown meat, facing pushback from ranchers and farm groups who prefer clear labeling over outright bans. AP News
Arizona and Tennessee: Considered legislation to ban cell-cultured meat; however, the bills did not pass in the 2024 legislative sessions. Penn State Agricultural Law Center+2National Agricultural Law Center+2Houston Chronicle+2

Federal Meat Label Regulations

At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees meat labeling through the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). In March 2024, the USDA finalized a rule allowing the voluntary use of “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labels on meat, poultry, and egg products only when they are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. USDA

Summary

The landscape of meat labeling laws in the U.S. is evolving, with several states enacting or proposing legislation to regulate the labeling of alternative meat products. These laws vary in scope, with some focusing on prohibiting specific terminology and others imposing outright bans on certain products. The federal government also plays a role in standardizing labeling practices to ensure consumer transparency.

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