How the meat lobby is waging war on the First Amendment – Crain’s Chicago Business

Despite the lack of any actual confusion, other states have waged their own wars on plant-based food. Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming all impose rules governing the use of specific meaty words.

Not to be outdone, federal lawmakers tried to force companies to put the word imitation on plant-based meat products in 2019. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has threatened to crack down on companies that describe almond milk as milk.

Some of these efforts twist the common meaning of words, essentially changing the dictionary. Prior to a 2019 lawsuit from the Institute for Justice in Mississippi, lawmakers even attempted to ban phrases like veggie burger.

Besides being unconstitutional, such oversight is expensive for companies that have to design different packages for different states. On a more basic level, the rules insult the intelligence of grocery shoppers.

Companies worried about consumer complaints sometimes create over-the-top disclaimers voluntarily. They warn that gasoline is flammable, blades are sharp and ice is slippery. Comedian Chris Porter makes fun of the absurdity, but overeager lawmakers miss the joke.

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How the meat lobby is waging war on the First Amendment - Crain's Chicago Business