Reps. Johnson, Soto Introduce Bill to Ensure Clear Meat Processing and Labeling

A news release yesterday from U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Darren Soto (D-FL) stated that, “[Reps. Johnson and Darren Soto] today introduced the Food Safety Modernization for Innovative Technologies Act, a bill which would formalize a regulatory framework for food derived from cell-cultured technology.

“Earlier this year, the Trump Administration established an agreement between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure food and labeling safety. The bill leverages the lab and food safety oversight expertise of the FDA and USDA. As cell-cultured meat technologies progress, this bill will ensure thorough agency oversight to protect consumers and the integrity of product claims.

“‘South Dakota ranchers already produce a safe, quality product, anything lab grown should have to meet the same standards for consumers,’ said Johnson. ‘As cell-cultured foods make way to the supermarket, Americans deserve to know exactly what it is they are feeding their families.'”

Yesterday’s update added that, “Under this legislation, FDA would oversee the lab process of multiplying animal collected cells to make tissue and USDA would oversee processing, packaging and labeling. Through a coordinated agency process, the Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to require prior approval of labels or labeling claims before introduction into the consumer market. The bill also provides protections for misbranded products, including ‘imitation’ products that could confuse consumers.”

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