State Assembly passes bills restricting food labeling

New bills passed unanimously by the Wisconsin State Assembly would prevent vegetarian and vegan foods sold in Wisconsin from being labeled as meat, milk, or dairy if they don’t contain those products, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. The labeling measures are supported by Wisconsin’s agriculture and dairy industries which say they will help protect Wisconsin’s agriculture economy, educate consumers about misleading food labels, and put pressure on the federal government to take action. The bills include one that would ban labeling a beverage as milk unless it comes from cows, goats, or other hooved mammals, and another prohibiting the selling of a product as cream, yogurt, or cheese unless it includes dairy. The bills now head to the Wisconsin State Senate.