Missouri Cattlemen Leading Lab Grown Meat Fight

A legislative effort in Missouri could set a precedent for whether or not fake meat companies can continue to allegedly mislead consumers. Last week, the Missouri House voted 107-38 to advance the legislation that bans labeling lab-grown meat products or substitutes as meat, and is the first state to address labeling of imitations legislatively. The proposal is backed by the Missouri Pork Association, the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. However, a California-based company, Impossible Foods, has hired three lobbyists in Missouri, a move the state cattlemen’s organization assumes is an effort to defeat the legislation. The company produces a plant-based product imitating hamburgers. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association executive vice president Mike Deering claims the company has “no problem” labeling its products as meat, and “makes no secret about its anti-livestock production stance.” Opposition to the bill says misrepresentation is already prohibited by federal law and argue against creating a state-specific regulation that would differ from the other 49 states.