Challenging Missouri’s Meat Labeling Law
Turtle Island Foods v. Richardson
In 2018, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Missouri law that prevents plant-based meat and cultured meat producers from using “meat” terminology because their products do not come from a slaughtered animal.
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Motions for Summary Judgment due
In 2018, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Missouri law that that prevents plant-based meat and cultured meat producers from using “meat” terminology because their products do not come from a slaughtered animal
Missouri legislators passed this law in 2018, in a brazen attempt to stifle the growing demand for plant-based meat — and the coming market introduction of meat grown directly from cells without the need for raising and slaughtering animals, sometimes called cultured meat. The law went into effect on Aug. 28, 2018.
The lawsuit was brought by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in coalition with the ACLU of Missouri, the Good Food Institute, and plant-based meat producer Tofurky. Our lawsuit argues that the law violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, the Dormant Commerce Clause, and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Recent News
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Court Rules Louisiana Label Censorship Law Unconstitutional After First Amendment Challenge from Tofurky
Meat and dairy alternatives can use common naming conventions in the state without fear of prosecutionMarch 29, 2022 Press Release -
Court Bars Enforcement of Iowa’s Unconstitutional Ag-Gag Law While Lawsuit Proceeds
Public interest coalition cheers major victory in lawsuit to strike down law designed to quash undercover investigationsDecember 2, 2019 Press Release -
Coalition Files Lawsuit Challenging Iowa’s Second Unconstitutional Ag-Gag Law
Today, a coalition of public interest groups, led by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Iowa’s new Ag-Gag law — a law that is substantively similar to an Iowa law struck down by the same federal court.April 22, 2019 Press Release
Related Cases
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Challenging Arkansas’ Meat Labeling Law
Turtle Island Foods v. Soman
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Challenging Louisiana’s Meat-Labeling Censorship Law
Tofurky v. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
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Challenging Arkansas’s Ag-Gag Law
Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Peco Foods, Inc. and Prayer Creek Farm
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