Fetterman, Ricketts Introduce FAIR Labels Act to Protect Beef, Require Transparent Labeling for Plant-Based Protein Products

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act to require cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alternative protein products to bear an accurate label, clearly differentiating these products from meat and poultry products. Companion legislation in the House is led by U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Mike Flood (R-NE-01), and Buddy Carter (R-GA-01).

"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."

"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 FAIR Labels Act would:

• Amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to ensure customers can discern between meat and poultry products and imitation meat and imitation poultry products;
• Prohibit the sale of mislabeled cell-cultivated protein or plant-based alternative protein products.

Currently, cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alternative protein products are not required to be explicitly labeled as such. The FAIR Labels Act would prohibit the sale of mislabeled cell-cultivated protein or plant-based alternative protein products and require alternative protein products to bear an accurate label. Permitted label examples include "cell-cultivated protein burger," "ground plant-based alternative protein," and "alternative protein" while prohibited labels include "cruelty-free steak," "cultivated beef burgers," and "plant-based ground beef."

Read the full text of the bill here.