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Food labeling bill gets attention in MO Legislature
The Missouri State Legislature is considering a food labeling bill that the executive director of the Missouri Pork Association says could have similar impact to California’s Prop 12 law.
“Missouri consumers want transparency. I don’t know if they’re willing to pay the price.”
Scott Hays says “we’re certainly in favor of consumers knowing their food, but we think this bill goes too far.”
The Senate Bill 149 would require more stringent labels for food and beverages sold in the state.The labels would display high sodium and sugar content in food, disclose lab-grown protein, and whether food is derived from an animal vaccinated with a messenger ribonuclenic acid-based vaccine or mRNAs.
Hays says if traceability of all meat products is required back to the farm of origin, compliance will be difficult.
“To be quite honest, we don’t have that ability in the industry on all cuts. There are some plants that could do that on maybe the big muscle cuts. But especially when you think about ground product and the way it flows through the system, it would be impossible today.”
He says processors would also be required to put a special label on products for the Missouri market.
A bill with similar language was considered in the state legislature in 2024 but failed.
The Missouri Senate’s Families, Seniors and Health Committee heard the bill in early February and no additional action has been taken.
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