Bipartisan FAIR Act Introduced In US Senate
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Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Fair and
Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act. The bipartisan legislation
is co-led by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). The bill requires cell-cultivated
protein and plant-based alternative protein products to bear an accurate label,
clearly differentiating these products from meat and poultry products. The bill
also prohibits the sale of mislabeled cell-cultivated protein or plant-based
alternative protein products. Companion legislation in the House is led by
Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Mike Flood (R-NE-01), and Buddy Carter
(R-GA-01).
“Deceptive labeling of plant-based protein products hurts American farmers and
ranchers. It also degrades consumer trust,” said Senator Ricketts. “By enhancing
oversight and enforcing stricter labeling regulations, we can protect Nebraska beef.
The FAIR Labels Act is common-sense: Americans should know exactly what they’re
putting in their grocery cart.”
"The hardworking farmers in Pennsylvania and across our country that feed all of us
with real ingredients have to unfairly compete with misleading labels of alternative
meats," said Senator Fetterman. "Folks can be in the pro-bio slop caucus, but I’m
in the pro-ribeye one. I'm proud to support the FAIR Labels Act to protect our
farmers and all consumers who buy their great products."
“Currently, there is no federal statute for labeling cell-cultivated protein
products in the marketplace. For far too long, lab-grown protein companies have
exploited the use of terms like ‘meat’ and ‘beef’ to describe their products,
creating the potential for consumer confusion through misleading marketing,” said
Gene Copenhaver, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Virginia cattle
producer. “The FAIR Labels Act will establish a federal guideline for labeling
cell-cultivated and plant-based alternative protein products, ensuring consumers can
easily differentiate these products from real beef products produced by U.S.
cattlemen and cattlewomen. We thank these members of the House and Senate for their
efforts to protect truthful beef labeling and deliver clarity in the marketplace.”
The FAIR Labels Act would:
* Amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act
to ensure customers can discern between meat and poultry products and imitation
meat and imitation poultry products;
* Prohibit the sale of mislabeled cell-cultivated protein or plant-based
alternative protein products.
BACKGROUND
Currently, cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alterative protein products are
not required to be explicitly labeled. The FAIR Labels Act would prohibit the sale
of mislabeled cell-cultivated protein or plant-based alternative protein products
and require alternative protein products to bear an accurate label. Permitted label
examples include “cell-cultivated protein burger,” “ground plant-based alternative
protein,” and “alternative protein” while prohibited labels include “cruelty-free
steak,” “cultivated beef burgers,” and “plant-based ground beef.”