Ohio bill would target how imitation meat and egg products are branded

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two lawmakers have introduced a bill that would regulate how imitation meat and egg products are branded in Ohio. 

House Bill 661, introduced by Reps. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin), would classify imitation meat or egg products as “misbranded” if the label includes an “identifying meat term,” such as beef, wing or cold cut. A product would not be considered misbranded if it had a word such as imitation, fake or vegan in a uniform size directly by the meat term. 

Along with plant-based products, the requirements in the bill also apply to cultured, or lab grown, meat. The United States approved the sale of lab-grown meat for the first time last year, but it is not yet available in grocery stores.

“If they want to lead with the plant-based logo or if they want to lead with 'cultured protein' on the label, that's fine,” Klopfenstein said. “The prominent thing on the label shouldn't be ‘chicken nugget,’ because that's what the consumer sees first and that's what we're after.”

As the development of cultured animal products continues to make strides and plant-based products grow in popularity, Daniels said he believes this bill would help the state “get ahead of the game.”

“I think it's really important that as these things are developed that we are ahead of the fact that they need to be clearly labeled,” Daniels said. 

Food processing facilities that sell products classified as misbranded under the bill would be required to pay a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each day a violation occurs. The state attorney general, upon written request by the Director of Agriculture, would take action against entities who violate the guidelines, according to the lawmakers. 

The bill would prevent K-12 districts along with Ohio colleges and universities from purchasing misbranded imitation meat and egg products as well as all lab-grown meat. If a plant-based imitation product is served, schools must clearly label it as so, Klopfenstein said. 

Additionally, it would require the Ohio Department of Health to submit a waiver to the federal government excluding misbranded or lab-grown products from WIC coverage – a food assistance program for currently or recently pregnant women.

“This bill will not only protect farmers from losing business to lab-grown, manufactured products, but it will also help customers not be misled by false advertising,” Daniels said.

Klopfenstein said he expects the bill to gain bipartisan support. House Bill 661 currently awaits committee assignment and a first hearing.