Truth In Labeling Legislation Clears House Ag Committee

By a 12-2 vote Wednesday, the Washington House Ag Committee voted to approve HB 2696 to the floor for a full vote.  According to legislation author Tom Dent, the bill addresses meat and poultry misbranding.  Dent said he’s not opposed to alternative proteins in the marketplace, but he wants consumers to know what they are purchasing.

“If it doesn’t have meat, tell us it doesn’t have meat," Dent said.  "That all that we want it to do, is to label the meat.  But there is a certain amount of push back on this though, which kind of surprised me.  I’m not sure what’s in it, so if I don’t know what’s in it, I don’t want to eat it.”

Dent said Truth In Labeling is much more than ensuring the correct words are used when packaging.  He added this legislation can help people who struggle with allergies know what products they can consume and what to avoid.

“I think it’s important that we know what we put into our bodies, and if it’s meat, it’s meat.  I’m not allergic to meat, but I may be allergic to some kind of a plant based product that trying to look like meat.”

Sponsors of the bipartisan legislation include Representatives Joe Schmick, Joel Kretz, Bruce Chandler, Mary Dye and Jacquelin Maycumber.

Click Here to learn more about HB 2696.

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