TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill to restrict how producers of meat alternatives could market their products in the state.
The bill lists 22 meat-related terms that producers of alternative foods won’t be able to use, such as jerky or burger, unless they label their products as “imitation” or add a phrase that the product does not contain meat.
The bill is being pushed by the Kansas livestock industry, which argues it would eliminate consumer confusion about which products contain meat. Opponents say the proposal violates free speech rights by restricting how plant-based and other alternative products can be marketed.
Lawmakers had a hearing on the bill Thursday.
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