So, This is Odd

Meat producers argue for a legal definition of meat

The fight to define "meat" is intensifying, with beef and farming industry groups persuading legislators in a dozen states to introduce laws that would make it illegal to use the word "meat" to describe plant-based or lab-made foods, the New York Times reports. The growing campaign comes as startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods continue to make strides in producing plant-based burgers that taste like real beef. Missouri last year passed a law banning the use of meat-like names on products that don't come from livestock, while Nebraska is considering its own law this year, the Hill reports. JanLee Rowlett, government and regulatory affairs manager for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, told the Telegraph Herald the labeling issue "is definitely an interest we have. We have a lot of cattlemen here who are really watching this issue and policy and making it a priority."