By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

The Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act was reintroduced in Congress to bring greater transparency to labeling of alternative protein products.

The bill, led in the U.S. House by Mark Alford (R-Mo.), along with co-sponsors U.S. Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Tony Weid (R-Wis.), aims to ensure consumers receive clear and accurate information when purchasing plant-based and cell-cultivated protein products.

U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sponsored the Senate version of the bill.

The bill seeks to reduce confusion in the marketplace for consumers by establishing consistent labeling standards and clearly defining alternative protein categories.

Under the FAIR Labels Act, terms like “cell-cultivated” and “plant-based alternative” would be formally defined to help consumers better understand how these products are produced.

If passed, the bill would require product labels to clearly display these terms and include disclaimers if the item does not contain meat or poultry or was not derived from a live animal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would oversee the labeling of these products, working alongside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to maintain product inspection standards. Both agencies are directed to update their 2019 memorandum of understanding to reflect advancements in alternative protein production.

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

“This legislation is an important step toward ensuring transparency in the marketplace, protecting the integrity of real meat products and preventing consumers from being misled,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “We urge Congress to pass this legislation.”