Nebraska might make it a crime to call a veggie burger 'meat'

What is meat, really?

If a new bill under consideration in the Nebraska state legislature passes, "meat" will be strictly defined within Nebraskan borders as "any edible portion of any livestock or poultry carcass" which was "raised in confinement for human consumption" — and not "lab-grown or insect or plant-based food products." Advertising or selling as "meat" any product which doesn't fit this definition would be met with criminal penalties including up to a year in jail.

The legislation was introduced by State Sen. Carol Blood (D), who told The Associated Press she is merely promoting "truth in advertising," though she also gave a nod toward the livestock industry's role in Nebraska's economy. "It's clear that meat comes from livestock," Blood said, "and livestock is our livelihood in Nebraska."

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Blood's legislation is supported by farm industry lobbyists, but it will face opposition from makers of lab-grown meat and meat alternatives, as well as civil liberties advocates. The proposal "would censor food labels and create consumer confusion where there is none," said Jessica Almy of the Good Food Institute. "You can't censor speech just to promote one industry's financial success."

A similar bill already passed last year in Missouri, where it is being challenged by the ACLU and Tofurky on free speech grounds. And at the federal level, a fight is underway over the word "milk," which the dairy industry says should not be used to label plant-based products like almond milk.