The United Egg Producers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Fisheries Institute, National Pork Producers, and National Milk Producers Federation are currently working with Congress through the appropriations process, to address issues surrounding companies labeling plant-based products as eggs. This coalition has requested language be included in the F.Y. 2021 Agriculture Appropriations bill to ensure FDA initiates meaningful enforcement action against improperly labeled imitation food products.

Consumers rely on product labels to know the ingredients and health benefits of the foods they buy and have the right to expect that this information is truthful and not misleading.

Similarly, food producers should be held to the same federal labeling standards and regulatory oversight to maintain a fair, level playing field in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, a growing number of ultra-processed imitation product labels feature the word “plant-based” before other food-related words that consumers have always relied upon to identify animal-based or animal-derived food products (such as milk, beef, eggs, seafood, pork, etc.). These labeling practices have resulted in significant consumer confusion and violate the misbranding provisions laid out by Congress in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Below is the language UEP requested to be put in the F.Y. 2021 Agriculture Appropriations bill.