Noem signs law that targets companies marketing artificial meat products

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation that requires “fake meat” products to be correctly labeled.

The law says a product is misbranded if it intentionally labels products in a false, deceptive or misleading manner that misrepresents it as meat or a meat byproduct.

The bill will go into effect July 1.

Rep. Carl Perry says the bill simply makes it unlawful to purposely mislead consumers.

The bill will rely on the current inspection system to catch violators who mislabel artificial meat products as real meat.

Proponents say the measure will help protect the livestock industry from being impacted if problems arise with artificial meat products

Critics argue such statues are concerning when it comes to free speech marketing.

AP-WF-03-25-19