The House Ag Committee advanced a Senate-approved bill that would prohibit Louisiana manufacturers from labeling foods such as of cauliflower rice as rice when it doesn’t contain rice. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain said the measure aims to ensure proper nutrition and safety for consumers.
“What we are doing, we are here to protect the consumer. We’re also here to protect the entirity of the industry. Because again, that’s why we have labels, that’s why we have standards,” said Strain.
Opponents of the bill say it will also be a hindrance to manufacturers who specialize in producing plant-based meat imitation products, but Colfax Representative Terry Brown says that is not the case.
“Our goal is to help Louisiana producers and that’s what we are here for and that is what this bill does,” said Brown.
Spokesperson for the plant-based meat producer Impossible Foods, Tyler Jameson says their company would never trick consumers into thinking they are eating meat from livestock, adding the bill would limit the right to free speech.
“SB152 censorship of our retail labels will put us at a disadvantage in the market. If we aren’t able to accurately describe our product, consumers won’t buy it,” said Jameson.
Jameson adds that not only are the current marketing materials clear they offer plant-based meat products, but the consumer demand is there for the products.
“To further illustrate that there is no consumer confusion, it is recently reported that Burger King saw and 18% increase in foot traffic after introducing the Impossible Whopper at it’s St. Louis restaurants,” said Jameson.
The bill moved forward without any objecting votes.
