Mississippi stepping back from ‘veggie burger’ restriction

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi is considering new rules that let companies continue to use terms like “veggie burger” and “vegan bacon.”

The state agriculture department proposed new regulations Thursday.

Free-market advocates filed a federal lawsuit against Mississippi on July 1 – the same day the state enacted a law saying “a plant-based or insect-based food product shall not be labeled as meat or a meat food product.”

Meat producers have been trying to protect meat terminology by pushing for state laws that restrict labeling of products such as meatless meatballs.

Makers of plant-based foods have also sued Missouri and Arkansas over labeling laws.

The proposed Mississippi regulations say terms such as “plant-based” must be prominently displayed on packaging. The rules are open for public comment for nearly a month before final adoption.

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