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Ohio bans misleading labeling on imitation meat and egg products for consumer and school purchases
Summary
House Bill 10 requires truth in labeling for cell-cultured and imitation meat and egg products, restricts schools from buying misleadingly labeled foods and passed unanimously.
The Ohio House passed House Bill 10 on Monday, a measure that requires clearer labeling of imitation meat and egg products and bars schools from purchasing deceptively labeled products that could mislead parents or students.
Representative Klopfenstein, sponsor of the bill, said the legislation is intended to promote transparency between businesses and consumers and to protect farmers from products that might use branding to imply they are the same as conventional products. "Keeping companies who specialize in the cell cultured products honest about their labeled products is the utmost priority of this bill," Klopfenstein said.
Representative Daniels, a co-sponsor, cited a widely available product called "Just Eggs" as an example of an item whose label contains no egg yet markets itself as an egg substitute; he said the bill is intended to ensure truth in labeling rather than ban innovative products. Representative Joe Miller offered lighthearted criticism of plant-based products during debate but also supported the bill's clarified labeling requirements.
The House approved HB 10 by a vote of 89-0. The bill's sponsors said it does not ban cell-cultured products but requires that labeling clearly reflect a product's biological makeup and restricts purchases by schools of deceptively labeled foods.
