HB 913 Summary

• Prohibits food processing plants, retailers, and food establishments from selling products misbranded as meat, requiring conspicuous "qualifying terms" (plant-based, lab-grown, cultured, etc.) displayed prominently near any meat-identifying language on labels.

• Defines "manufactured-protein food products" including cultivated-protein, insect-protein, and plant-protein products, and establishes that these products cannot be labeled or sold as meat or meat-food products.

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to inspect food products based on credible complaints of misbranding and allows issuance of stop orders and embargo orders to prevent sale of misbranded products.

• Establishes civil penalties up to $500 per violation (maximum $10,000 per occurrence) for violations, with violators able to appeal through circuit court within 30 days.

• Mandates that state universities, community colleges, and local school boards establish policies prohibiting purchase of misbranded meat products or cultivated-protein food products, and requires retailers and restaurants to clearly label products as meat or nonmeat at point of sale.