Tofurky Has a Right to Free Speech, Too

[Carjosse]

A few days ago I found this blog post on the ACLU website.

In a brazen attempt to restrict the First Amendment rights of those concerned with the effects of their food choices, the Missouri Legislature passed a law on Tuesday that prohibits “misrepresenting” any product as “meat” if it does not come from a slaughtered animal. The new law now makes it a crime for plant-based and clean-meat producers to accurately inform consumers what their products are: Foods designed to fulfill the roles conventional slaughtered meat has traditionally played in a meal. For example, under the law, selling a vegan sausage would be illegal because the word “sausage” has been traditionally associated with animal meat.

Just why Missouri, why? Are Missouri lawmakers that desperate for cash they need to pander to the meat processing industry by banning calling things calling themselves veggie burgers or Tofurky? How does this benefit consumers? Are people form Missouri so illiterate they think Tofurky is real meat? I think this definitely should be nominated one of the dumbest and most pointless laws passed his year.

 

[Bum]

A few days ago I found this blog post on the ACLU website.



Just why Missouri, why? Are Missouri lawmakers that desperate for cash they need to pander to the meat processing industry by banning calling things calling themselves veggie burgers or Tofurky? How does this benefit consumers? Are people form Missouri so illiterate they think Tofurky is real meat? I think this definitely should be nominated one of the dumbest and most pointless laws passed his year.

So what is the law going to require? All vegan products to be labeled as "meat substitute" and eliminate the words sausage, burger, etc?

The blog was a bit vague on that.

 

[Carjosse]

So what is the law going to require? All vegan products to be labeled as "meat substitute" and eliminate the words sausage, burger, etc?

The blog was a bit vague on that.

That is the problem, apparently it is equally vague from what I have read. To my understanding that appears to be how it will work. Here is another article.

 

[Bum]

That is the problem, apparently it is equally vague from what I have read. To my understanding that appears to be how it will work. Here is another article.

Reading the article, I am not sure it is a 1st Amendment violation given that there have been previous similar rulings over the wording of Almond Milk....and I am sure once lab grown meat becomes commercially viable as a product on the shelf, there will be a circus over "natural meat" labeling vs. "lab grown meat... .but, I am no constitutional scholar.

That having been said, it is pedantic and vague in the extreme, and I am sure being pushed by special interest ....tofu/soy based meat substitutes have been on the market for years, and I am pretty sure the average consumer is smart enough to know the difference. :shrug: