The Texas House of Representatives approved House Bill 316 which prohibits plant-based meat sellers from using “meat terms” such as meat, pork, poultry, or beef to describe their products. The law states that the terms must have clearly defined and accurate labeling such as analog, meatless, plant-based, cell-cultured, or lab-grown. 

The House argued that the bills have been proposed to avoid misleading advertising and consumer confusion on plant-based food products meaning that the bill does not restrict broader terms like “burger”. The bill will go come into effect if it wins approval from the state senate and a signature from the governor. 

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Poultry Federation, and Texas Pork Producers Association support the bill. On the other side are Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods as well as related organizations like the Plant Based Foods Association and the Alliance for Plant Based Inclusion.