By Julie Tomascik
Editor

A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress last week aims to establish new labeling requirements for plant-based and cell-cultured alternative meat products.

The Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels Act of 2024 (FAIR Labels Act) would require alternative meat products be labeled as “imitation” to clearly differentiate between real meat and plant-based or alternative meat products.

The bill was introduced by U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in the Senate and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) in the House.

“Whether they choose protein substitutes like plant-based or lab-grown meat or traditionally raised meat, the product should be labeled clearly,” Alford said in a statement. “Farmers and ranchers across the country work from sun up to sun down to produce high quality and nutritious meat for consumers. It is only fair that all products are labeled fairly. This begins with transparent and appropriate labeling laws which our legislation requires.”

The FAIR Labels Act sets definitions for “imitation meat” and “imitation poultry.”

It would require products like plant-based meat and substitute protein products to be labeled as “imitation” meat or another word that clearly conveys the food is derived from sources other than meat. The label would also be required to include a clear disclaimer that indicates the product does not contain meat or poultry.

The bill also addresses cell-cultured protein labeling.

Under the FAIR Labels Act, cell-cultured meat and protein includes any product for human food use that is made wholly or in part from any cell culture of DNA of an amenable species or live bird and is grown or cultivated outside of the live animal from which the cell culture or DNA was acquired.

Labels for cell-cultured products would be required to include “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” immediately adjacent to the name of the food.

The bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to oversee the labeling and inspection standards of the products.

Texas Farm Bureau supports the bill, having endorsed similar legislation in the Texas Legislature last year.

“There is a lot of confusion at the meat counter because labels and packaging for meat and alternative meat products are often very similar,” Laramie Adams, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Government Affairs, said. “This bill addresses those labeling issues and will help protect the reputation of traditional meat products in the marketplace.”

The House version is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Roger Williams of Texas, Jonathan Jackson of Illinois and Don Davis of North Carolina.

Other industry groups that support the bill in addition to Texas Farm Bureau include the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, American Sheep Industry, National Pork Producers Council and the National Association of the State Departments of Agriculture.