A federal judge in Baton Rouge has ruled the state’s 2019 truth in labeling law as unconstitutional. The Louisiana Legislature passed the law in an effort to prevent food companies from labeling a veggie burger as a “tofu burger,” because it doesn’t contain meat or “cauliflower rice,” when it’s broccoli, not rice.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain disagrees with the ruling.
“I am in charge of protecting the public and I am in charge of making sure the labels are accurate,” said Strain.
But Vice President of Policy at the Good Foods Institute Jessica Almy says consumers are not confusing veggie burgers for beef burgers.
“Consumers buy plant-based foods because they are plant-based that’s the entire value proposition of these products,” said Almy.
Almy says the law was passed in an attempt to control what consumers buy.
“It was an attempt to censure the competition to make it harder to offer these products to Louisiana consumers in Louisiana supermarkets,” said Almy.
Strain says the state plans to appeal the ruling.
“In my opinion, the judge misapplied the law,” said Strain.
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