Missouri state senators on Thursday passed legislation that prohibits a product not derived from harvested livestock to be marketed as meat

The state will become the first to enact a rule addressing the issue, if the bill, sponsored by Missouri Sen. Brian Munzlinger, is signed into law. The state’s House has already passed a version of the bill.Missouri Cattlemen's Association (MCA) Executive Vice President Mike Deering said he expects other states to follow with similar legislation."This isn't a Missouri issue. This is about protecting the integrity of the products that farm and ranch families throughout the country work hard to raise each and every day," Deering said in a statement. "I never imagined we would be fighting over what is and isn't meat. It seems silly. However, this is very real and I cannot stress enough the importance of this issue. We are beyond pleased to see this priority legislation cross the finish line."Missouri’s state-level action comes as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) call on USDA to establish labeling requirements that better inform consumers about the difference between products that come from food animals and those that were created in a laboratory.Earlier this year, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) petitioned USDA on the issue relative to beef."This legislation does not stifle technology, but it does ensure the integrity of our meat supply and reduces consumer confusion. We must ensure that those products do not mislead consumers into thinking those products are actually meat produced by farm and ranch families," said Deering.