House Bill 134: Clear Labels, No Confusion – North Carolina Targets Misleading Food Branding

Bill aims to ensure plant-based, lab-grown, and insect-based foods are clearly labeled, preventing them from being mistaken for traditional meat and poultry.

Holly Springs, NC, Feb. 20, 2025—House Bill 134 (link), also known as Prohibit Misbranding of Certain Food Products, was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly on February 17th. This bill aims to make food labels more transparent by preventing misleading branding of plant-based, lab-grown, and insect-based food products. Sponsored by Representative Dixon, it ensures that people know exactly what they buy when they shop for meat and poultry products.

What the Bill Does

The main focus of House Bill 134 is truth in labeling. As more alternative proteins—like plant-based meats and lab-grown products—enter the market, some companies use words traditionally associated with meat, like "burger," "sausage," or "chicken," even though the product doesn’t come from a farm-raised animal. This bill would require clear labeling so that consumers aren’t misled into thinking they’re purchasing conventional meat when they’re buying something else.

Under the proposed law, if a food product is not made from traditionally raised and processed animals but still uses meat-related words, it must include a clear descriptor such as:

• plant-based

• lab-grown

• insect-protein

This label must be in a large, easy-to-read font (at least 20 points in size or larger) and placed right next to the product’s name on the packaging. This ensures shoppers can quickly understand what they’re buying without reading the fine print.

Why It Matters

Supporters of the bill argue that it protects consumers from deceptive marketing and helps them make informed choices. Traditional farmers and ranchers also support the bill, believing it will prevent confusion between real meat and alternative products.

However, the bill could also impact plant-based and lab-grown food companies. Some argue that these labeling rules place unnecessary burdens on their industry, making it harder to market their products. There may also be legal challenges over whether restricting certain words violates free speech laws.

What Happens Next?

House Bill 134 has been referred to several committees, including Health, Commerce and Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment, and the Rules Committee. If it passes through these stages, it will go to the full House for a vote before moving to the Senate.

If the bill becomes law, the new labeling rules will take effect on October 1, 2025, applying to all food products sold in North Carolina from that date forward.

In the end, prohibiting the misbranding of certain food products is about transparency and fairness in food labeling. Whether you're a meat-lover, a vegetarian, or just someone who wants to know precisely what you're eating, House Bill 134 could significantly impact how food is labeled in North Carolina.

Contact Your Representatives

If you live in Holly Springs and want to share your thoughts on House Bill 134, you can reach out to your North Carolina representatives:

• Senator Sydney Batch (NC Senate District 17)

  • Email: Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov

  • Phone: (919) 733-5653

• Representative Erin Paré (NC House District 37)

  • Email: Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov

  • Phone: (919) 733-5602

Your voice matters, and reaching out to your representatives is a great way to stay engaged in decisions that affect North Carolina’s food industry and consumer protections.