Alford, Ricketts Lead Reintroduction of the FAIR Labels Act

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) reintroduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act of 2026. This bipartisan and bicameral bill marks a significant step towards greater transparency in food labeling. This legislation will ensure consumers have accurate information about plant-based and cell-cultivated (lab-grown) protein products when making purchasing decisions.

The legislation is co-led by Reps. Mike Flood (NE-01), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mike Simpson (ID-02), Tony Wied (WI-08), and August Pfluger (TX-11).

Read the text of the legislation here.

Read a section-by-section here.

"American families deserve to know exactly what they're eating," said Congressman Alford. "Real meat from hardworking ranchers should be clearly labeled, not hidden behind misleading plant-based or lab-grown alternatives. Our farmers and ranchers work from dawn to dusk raising nutritious meat. They deserve a fair playing field. That's why I'm proud to introduce the FAIR Labels Act of 2026. Missouri led the nation on honest labeling. Now we're taking that fight to Washington."

"Nebraska is the Beef State and raising livestock has long been part of Nebraska's identity," said Congressman Flood. "Families deserve to know exactly what they are putting on their tables, not to be confused by deceptive labeling and marketing tricks. Meanwhile, our farmers and ranchers continue to be undercut by the fake meat industry's labeling. Thank you to Congressman Alford for his leadership in introducing this commonsense bill, which will finally bring about honest labeling of fake meat products and better inform consumers when making choices at the grocery store."

"The FAIR Labels Act ensures that Americans know what they are purchasing and feeding to themselves and their families. This is about transparency and consistency," said Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA). "Plant-based and lab-grown meat needs to be clearly labeled so consumers can make informed decisions at the grocery store."

The Senate companion of the FAIR Labels Act is led by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and John Fetterman (D-PA).

"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."

Highlights of the Legislation:

• Enhanced Clarity: The Act defines "Cell Cultivated" and "Plant Based Alternative" protein products to help consumers easily identify products that visually resemble or are represented as meat or poultry but are derived from other sources.
• Authority & Inspection: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will oversee the labeling of these products, working alongside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to maintain product inspection standards.
• Labeling Requirements: Product labels will be required to use terms like "cell cultivated," "plant based," or similar descriptors, along with a clear disclaimer if the product does not contain meat or poultry.
• Definition of Cell-Cultivated (Lab Grown) Products: The Act provides a clear definition of cell-cultivated protein products, ensuring that labels accurately reflect lab-grown food sources.
• Regulatory Framework Confirmation: This legislation confirms the shared jurisdiction of the FDA and USDA in overseeing cell cultivated protein products, while requiring an updated cooperative agreement for labeling.

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