By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

The Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully (MEAT) Act was reintroduced by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) last month to eliminate confusion created by product mislabeling.

“It’s time to end the deceptive propaganda of plant-based protein products that deliberately confuse consumers by mimicking beef and pork,” Fischer said. “My Real MEAT Act will clarify that these imitation products aren’t held to the same food safety and labeling standards as real, nutritious beef and pork. Americans deserve to know what’s on their dinner plate, and my bill will bring certainty to the supermarket and end the smear campaign against real meats.”

The bill aims to end deceptive labeling of imitation meat products and clarify the definition of beef and pork for labeling purposes.

The bill mandates the word “beef” can only be used for the flesh of cattle and the term “beef product” for edible products produced in whole or in part from beef. This does not account for milk and milk products.

Similarly, definitions would be established for “pork” and “pork products.” Terms such as “meat,” “meat food product,” “meat byproducts” and “meat broker” would also be clarified by the bill. These definitions must adhere to code of federal regulation definitions.

Non-animal-based products would be required to print “imitation” on their labels, immediately before or after the product name. The word “imitation” would also need to be printed in the same size and prominence as the product name.

The Real MEAT Act includes endorsement mechanisms requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify mislabeled items and hold those producers responsible.

The Real MEAT Act is supported by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and several other farm and ranch groups.

“Texas farmers and ranchers have worked hard to build a reputation of providing high quality products,” Laramie Adams, TFB associate director of Government Affairs, said. “We commend Senator Fischer’s Real MEAT Act to protect both producers and consumers by strengthening food safety and labeling standards.”

Texas passed a similar state law this year limiting how alternative protein producers could label their products. However, past efforts on the federal level have not garnered enough support to become law. Fischer introduced the bill in 2019, but it was never voted on.