Nothing is as it seems. I previously blogged about the marketing of non-dairy products as “milk” – now it’s meat’s turn. According to a recent article in the Star Tribune, multiple states are either already regulating or considering regulating use of the term “meat” on product labels.
As explained in the article, supporters of a potential regulation in Nebraska, a large producer of meat products, believe the measure is necessary to protect consumers from being misled and to promote truth in advertising. The concern is that consumers making purchasing decisions may be unable to distinguish between farm-grown meat products and lab-grown products labeled as “meat.” According to a Food Safety News article, the proposed 10-page bill would amend the Nebraska Deceptive Trade Act to make it illegal or advertise or label any insect-based, plant-based, or lab-grown food product as “meat.”
Again, nothing is at it seems. As lab-grown food products increase in volume and popularity, we are likely to consider to see proposals and regulations like these.