HB1305: Meat labeling; require accurate labeling of meat and nonmeat products by processors, retail and food establishments prior to final sale.

Legislative Summary

An Act To Provide For Labeling Requirements For Meat And Meat Substitute Products In An Effort To Prevent Consumer Confusion; To Define Terminology Used In This Act; To Provide That The Department Of Agriculture Shall Inspect An Inventory Of Food Products Offered For Sale Or Sold At A Food Processing Plant, Retail Or Food Establishment Based On A Credible Complaint; To Prescribe The Criteria That Allows For The Identification Of Misbranded Meat Products; To Prohibit Food Processing Plants, Retail And Food Establishments From Offering For Sale Or Sell A Food Product That Is Misbranded As A Meat Product; To Prescribe Enforcement Actions That May Be Taken By The Department Against Entities That Violate The Provisions Of This Act; To Prescribe Civil Penalties For Violations; To Prescribe The Manner By Which Accused Violators Who Have Received The Imposition Of A Civil Penalty To Contest And Appeal The Decision Of The Department To Impose Such Penalty; To Provide That The Department Shall Not Suspend Or Revoke A License Issued To A Food Processing Plant, Retail Or Food Establishment For Violations; To Require The Executive Administrative Officers Of State Institutions Of Higher Learning Under The Authority Of The Board Of Trustees Of State Institutions Of Higher Learning, The Boards Of Trustees Of Public Community And Junior Colleges And Local School Boards To Establish Policies To Prevent The Purchase Of Food Products That Are Misbranded As A Meat Product Or Is A Cultivated-protein Food Product; To Require All Retail And Food Service Establishments Of Food Products, Meats, Meat-food Products, Cultivated-protein Food Products, Manufactured-protein Food Products, Insect-protein Food Products To Inform Consumers Of The Products' Authenticity As A Meat Or Nonmeat Product With Appropriate Labeling At The Final Point Of Sale; To Prescribe The Required Method Of Notification; To Provide That The Commissioner May Require Certain Entities To Maintain A Verifiable Record-keeping Audit Trail For Purposes Of Verifying Compliance; To Require Distributors Or Wholesalers Engaged In The Business Of Supplying Meat, Meat-food Products, Cultivated-protein Food Products, Manufactured-protein Food Products, Insect-protein Food Products And Plant-protein Food Products To A Retailer Or Food Service Establishment To Provide Information To The Retailer Or Food Service Establishment Indicating The Authenticity Of Product As A Meat Or Nonmeat; To Amend Sections 75-35-3, 75-35-15, 75-33-3 And 75-33-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Preceding Provisions; And For Related Purposes.