Texas lawmakers recently approved a bill that will ban plant-based products from using the terms such as “meat” or “beef” on product labels.
House Bill 316 was introduced by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-54) last November and was passed by the House on May 10. Senate companion legislation, Senate Bill 883, was introduced in early March by Sen. Drew Springer (R) and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Business and Commerce.
The bill states that any alternative meat product that is advertised or labeled as a meat product shall be considered misbranded if it does not contain “imitation” in prominent type on the label. However, companies would not be barred from using the word “burger.”
The bill has support from industry livestock associations, but critics argue the bill could lead to unnecessary litigation.
“This is for those who choose to eat meat, but it’s also for those who choose to not eat meat,” Buckley said. He added that the goal “is to have clear and accurate labeling so the consumer has no doubt what they’re purchasing.”
