By Jessica Hoover,
Pendleton County Extension Agent – Agriculture and Natural Resources
On March 9, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 5349, otherwise known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act. This bill was approved by the governor on March 27 and became effective June 7. This bill defines and establishes the language that can be used on labels for plant based, analogue, or cell-cultured food products, and establishes what is considered “misbranded” for these products.
Analogue products are defined by this bill as a food product made by combining processed plant products, insects, or fungus with food additives in order to resemble characteristics of an egg, egg product, fish, fishery product, meat, meat food product, poultry, or poultry product. Analogue products must be labeled as such, using the language “analogue,” “meatless,” “plant-based,” “made from plants,” or similar, but accurate terms.
Cell-cultured products are defined as a food product made by harvesting animal cells and artificially or chemically replicating those cells in a laboratory to produce tissue that resembles characteristics of an egg, egg, product, fish, fishery product, meat, meat food product, poultry, or poultry product. Cell-cultured products must contain the language “Cell-cultured,” “Lab-grown,” or similar, but accurate language.
Another important definition to note is the difference between what is considered “food” and a “food product.” Analogue or cell-cultured products do not fall under the definition of “food,” but rather “food products.” The bill defines “food” as any egg, egg product, fish, fishery product, meat, meat food product, poultry, or poultry product.
While the key topic of this bill is labeling of alternative food products, there are other requirements for food labeling included. Labels must include dietary properties, complete ingredient list, including flavoring, coloring, and preservatives, information on pesticide use if applicable, implications if used as an ingredient of another food or food product and nutritional information. This bill aims to provide transparency and clarity for consumers when making choices regarding their food and food products.
The full text of the bill can be found online at https://www.wvlegislature.gov/.