Prohibiting the misbranding of certain food products, and providing penalties

GENERAL. This bill prohibits the purchase and sale of certain food products that are manufactured to resemble meat products but that are not derived from the processing (slaughter) of domesticated agricultural food animals, specifically cattle and bison, goats, sheep and lambs, swine, chickens, and turkeys. A manufactured-protein food product is formulated as a cultivated-protein food product, or either an insect-protein food product or plant-protein food product. In all three cases, the food product has one or more sensory attributes that resemble a type of tissue originating from a species of food animal but that, in lieu of being derived from slaughter, is derived from manufacturing cells grown in vitro, meaning outside the food animal’s body, or that is derived from manufacturing parts of insects or plants (new Code chapter 137E). BACKGROUND —— INSPECTION REGULATIONS (DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, APPEALS, AND LICENSING).3). Both government entities are referred to as a regulatory authority. The bill applies to two businesses regulated by DIAL, a food processing plant and a grocery store (licensee). A food processing plant manufactures, packages, labels, or stores food for human consumption but does not provide a food product directly to a consumer.1).1). A regulatory authority licenses and inspects both businesses for health and safety purposes. BILL’S PROVISIONS —— LABELING REQUIREMENT —— CRIMINAL PENALTY. The bill provides that a food product is misbranded as a meat product if it is a manufactured-protein food product or the food product contains a manufactured-protein food product; the food product is offered for sale or sold on a wholesale or retail basis; and the label that is part of or placed on the package or other container storing a food product includes one of seven identifying terms, including beef, chicken, goat, lamb or sheep, pork, or turkey.4).3). A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. BILL’S PROVISIONS —— LABELING REQUIREMENT AND PROHIBITIONS ON SALE —— ENFORCEMENT.2).5). Upon being issued the stop order, the licensee must not offer for sale or sell the food product until the regulatory authority determines that the food product is or is not misbranded as a meat product. If a regulatory authority determines that the food product is misbranded as a meat product, the regulatory authority may issue an embargo order requiring the food processing plant or grocery store to dispose of the misbranded meat product other than by sale to consumers in this state. DIAL, the attorney general, or a county attorney may enforce the stop order.4). RESTRICTIONS ON RESEARCH.9). RESTRICTIONS ON THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF MANUFACTURED MEAT PRODUCTS (WIC PROGRAM). The bill applies to a grocery store that participates as a vendor in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC). WIC is administered by the United States department of agriculture (USDA).16C). RESTRICTIONS ON THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF MANUFACTURED MEAT PRODUCTS (EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS). The bill requires a number of different educational institutions to establish policies that prohibit the purchase of a food product that is misbranded as a meat product or that is a cultivated-protein food product.25D).