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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 14 January 2019
Industry wary of alternatives tries to protect a word: meat

By GRANT SCHULTE tained meat or a substi-
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — tute. She said her proposal
More than four months af- wouldn't require inspec-
ter Missouri became the tions of product labels, as
first U.S. state to regulate Missouri's law does.
the term "meat" on product "I don't want to be the
labels, Nebraska's powerful meat police," she said.
farm groups are pushing for Under the Nebraska bill, vi-
similar protection from veg- olations would bring a mis-
gie burgers, tofu dogs and demeanor charge punish-
other items that look and able by up to a year in jail
taste like real meat. and a $1,000 fine.
Nebraska lawmakers will "Consumers have a right to
consider a bill this year de- know what they're buying,"
fining meat as "any edible said John Hansen, presi-
portion of any livestock or dent of the Nebraska Farm-
poultry, carcass, or part ers Union. "That's the case
thereof" and excluding whether it's a vegetarian
"lab-grown or insect or product or not. There ought
plant-based food prod- to be clear, honest and ac-
ucts." It would make it a curate labeling, and then
crime to advertise or sell let the marketplace make
something "as meat that is the choices."
not derived from poultry or Hansen said his group's live-
livestock." A conventional beef burger, left, is seen Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, next to "The Impossible Burger", stock producers are par-
right, a plant-based burger containing wheat protein, coconut oil and potato protein among it's
Similar measures aimed ingredients. ticularly concerned about
at meat alternatives are Associated Press whether consumers will be
pending in Tennessee, Vir- able to differentiate be-
ginia and Wyoming. They Carol Blood, a city-dwell- culture. Livestock and live- filed a federal lawsuit chal- tween meat grown in the
come amid a debate over ing vegetarian from the stock product sales gener- lenging the Missouri law . lab and farm-grown beef,
what to call products that Omaha suburb of Bellevue. ated an estimated $12.1 They argue the law unfairly pork and chicken.
are being developed us- Blood, who grew up on a billion for the state's econ- stifles competition. Pete McClymont, execu-
ing the emerging science farm, said she introduced omy in 2016, according The Nebraska bill "would tive vice president for the
of meat grown by culturing the measure because agri- to the USDA's most recent censor food labels and group Nebraska Cattle-
cells in a lab. Supporters of culture is Nebraska's largest available data. create consumer confu- men, said his organization's
the science are embracing industry and needs to be The measure is certain to sion where there is none," concern rises partly from
the term "clean meat" — protected for the good of face resistance from food said Jessica Almy, direc- the growth of products la-
language the convention- the whole state. producers that sell plant- tor of policy for the Wash- beled as almond and soy
al meat industry strongly "I'm not bringing this bill to based alternatives, as well ington-based Good Food milk, which have become
opposes. tell people what they can as those working to bring Institute. "You can't cen- an increasingly popular al-
The issue strikes a particu- and can't eat," she said. lab-grown meat to market. sor speech just to promote ternative to cow's milk. Mc-
larly strong chord in Ne- "All I'm asking for is truth in Critics say the bill infringes one industry's financial Clymont said his group still
braska, one of the nation's advertising. It's clear that on the free-speech rights of success."Supporters of the needs to review specific
top states for livestock pro- meat comes from livestock, companies that produce Nebraska measure say details of the Nebraska pro-
duction, where cars roll and livestock is our liveli- vegetarian alternatives to they want to ensure people posal, but will push for any
down the interstate with hood in Nebraska." real meat. aren't misled about what law that protects the state's
"Beef State" license plates Nebraska led the nation in The Good Food Institute, they're eating. livestock producers.
and the governor each commercial red meat pro- the American Civil Liber- Blood said she proposed "When I go out and speak
year proclaims May as duction in 2017 and had ties Union of Missouri, the the measure after see- to our membership, this is
"Beef Month." the most feed cows as of Animal Legal Defense Fund ing two women in a gro- right near the top of what
Farm groups have found last year, according to the and plant-based food cery store who couldn't tell people are passionate
an unusual ally in state Sen. U.S. Department of Agri- company Tofurkey have whether a product con- about," he said.q
Judge blocks Trump birth control coverage rules in 13 states

SUDHIN THANAWALA and Washington, D.C. The erage to women by claim- California Attorney Gener- The U.S. Department of
Associated Press plaintiffs sought to prevent ing religious objections. al Xavier Becerra said in a Justice said in court docu-
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A the rules from taking ef- Some private employers statement Sunday. "Today's ments the rules "protect a
U.S. judge in California on fect as scheduled on Mon- could also object on moral court ruling stops another narrow class of sincere re-
Sunday blocked Trump day while a lawsuit against grounds. attempt by the Trump Ad- ligious and moral objectors
administration rules, which them moved forward. California and the other ministration to trample on from being forced to facili-
would allow more employ- But Gilliam limited the states argue that women women's access to basic tate practices that conflict
ers to opt out of providing scope of the ruling to the would be forced to turn to reproductive care. It's 2019, with their beliefs."
women with no-cost birth plaintiffs, rejecting their re- state-funded programs for yet the Trump Administra- At issue is a requirement
control, from taking effect quest that he block the birth control and experi- tion is still trying to roll back under President Barack
in 13 states and Washing- rules nationwide. ence unintended pregnan- women's rights. Our coali- Obama's health care law
ton, D.C. The changes would allow cies. tion will continue to fight that birth control services
Judge Haywood Gilliam more employers, including "The law couldn't be more to ensure women have ac- be covered at no addi-
granted a request for a publicly traded compa- clear — employers have no cess to the reproductive tional cost. Obama officials
preliminary injunction by nies, to opt out of providing business interfering in wom- healthcare they are guar- included exemptions for re-
California, 12 other states no-cost contraceptive cov- en's healthcare decisions," anteed under the law." ligious organizations.q