The Texas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 316 that would place restrictions on the labeling of meat alternatives. Descriptors including “meat”, “pork”, “poultry”, or “beef” would be prohibited from the label of any food product derived from plants, cell culture or insects. The claimed justification relates to “informing consumers of the origin of products”. The Texas meat labeling bill was heavily supported by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the Texas Poultry Federation, and the Texas Pork Producers Association.
Several states have enacted similar legislation including Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi, but all are undergoing legal challenge and the question of free speech considerations and constitutionality will ultimately be decided by federal courts.