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UN Climate Crisis Roadmap Criticized for Ignoring Meat Reduction

In a critique published in the journal Nature Food, academic experts are challenging the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) new climate crisis roadmap for neglecting meat reduction strategies and alternative proteins like plant-based meat. They express concern over the roadmap's lack of transparency in selecting the list of supported actions, arguing that it hampers any assessment of the roadmap's recommendations against existing scientific evidence which consistently highlights the benefits of reducing meat consumption. This follows several allegations of censorship regarding livestock's climate impact by former FAO officials. Cleo Verkuijl, one of the authors of the critique, stated: “It’s very striking: the FAO doesn’t include one of the clearest interventions that would help meet both environmental and health targets.”

Florida Legislature Bans Sale and Manufacture of Cultivated Meat

The Florida Legislature has approved a bill banning the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat. The bill classifies the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat as a second-degree misdemeanor, with violators facing a possible $1,000 fine and potential licence suspension for businesses. The legislation aligns Florida with other states (like Arizona) considering similar bans and countries such as Italy which have implemented a ban.

Arizona Introduces Bills to Ban Cultivated Meat and Regulate Meat Alternative Labeling

Two bills introduced in Arizona aim to ban cultivated meat and restrict labeling of meat alternatives. The first, Arizona House Bill 2121, introduced by Representative David Marshall, aims to outlaw the sale or production of cultivated animal products and allows affected businesses to sue producers for up to $100,000. The second, Arizona House Bill 2244, presented by Representative Quang Nguyen, seeks to restrict the representation and labeling of meat alternatives, preventing the “intentional misrepresentation” of products not derived from livestock. The bill covers laboratory-produced items from animal cells and synthetic products from plants, insects, or other sources. These legislative moves highlight ongoing debates surrounding the regulation and labeling of emerging cultivated and plant-based meat products.

Quebec Superior Court Rejects Rawesome Raw Vegan Inc.'s Challenge to Cheese Labeling Rules

The Quebec Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit by Rawesome Raw Vegan Inc., a vegan cheese company, seeking a declaration that vegan cheese products are not required to adhere to the standards of composition outlined for “cheese” in articles B.08.033 to B.08.054 of the federal Regulations Respecting Food and Drugs. This comes after Rawesome successfully appealed a 2021 conviction that found them guilty of violating food labeling laws by describing their cashew-based products as “cheese.” The Quebec Superior Court overturned the conviction, finding that the labeling laws only applied to dairy-based cheeses. The Attorney General of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency brought a motion to dismiss the case, citing no live legal question, as there was no current challenge by the government to Rawesome's ongoing use of the term “cheese.” The Court ultimately agreed, noting that Rawesome didn’t have sufficient interest in the matter. National animal law organization Animal Justice intervened in the case, arguing that banning vegan companies from using common words like “milk” and “cheese” is a violation of the Charter rights to freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.

California's Prop 12 Becomes Law

Effective January 1, 2024, California's Proposition 12 (Prop 12) law is fully operational, prohibiting the sale of meat and eggs produced under specific farming practices.Under Prop 12, farm owners and operators may not knowingly cause any covered animal to be confined in a cruel manner, meaning chickens, breeding pigs, and calves must not be confined in an enclosure that fails to comply with standards specified for each species. Despite industry opposition and a 2023 Supreme Court validation, a Missouri senator has introduced a bill aiming to preempt Prop 12, currently under Senate committee review.

Global Climate Conference COP28 Urged to Tackle Food Sector Emissions

Climate advocacy groups are urging nations at the 28th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai to commit to reducing emissions from the global food sector, responsible for nearly one-third of human-made greenhouse gas emissions. The conference, for the first time, has dedicated a full day to focus on food and agriculture. Advocates emphasize the importance of nations committing to robust actions to mitigate emissions from the food system in their national climate plans. They specifically highlight the urgent need to tackle methane emissions from livestock production and reduce food waste. Concurrently, leaked documents have brought to light a pro-meat communications plan by industry giants such as JBS and the Canadian Cattle Association, who argue that the cattle industry brings benefits for “both the environment and human nutrition.” These revelations come amid heightened global concerns regarding the environmental impact of livestock and a growing trend towards plant-based diets. Additionally, they closely follow a report by The Guardian exposing industry pressure leading to the censorship of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports on the role of cattle in greenhouse gas emissions.

AEL Advocacy Files False Advertising Complaint Against Chicken Farmers Canada

Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (AEL Advocacy) has filed a false advertising complaint against Chicken Farmers Canada (CFC) over ads claiming that "Canadian farmers raise chickens with care to be healthy, wholesome and full of nutrition," a depiction challenged by AEL Advocacy as deceptive and misleading. In its complaint, AEL Advocacy argues that these claims are not supported by scientific evidence regarding the health risks associated with chicken consumption. They also argue that the CFC’s portrayal of chicken as a humane and ethical choice contradicts the reality of how Canadian chickens are raised and processed. The organization is calling on Ad Standards to withdraw the ads and hold the CFC accountable for its alleged misleading advertising practices.

France Reintroduces Bill to Ban Meat Names for Plant-Based Products

France has introduced revised proposals to prohibit the use of meat-related terms like “steak” and “spare ribs” for plant-based foods produced in the country. The first country in the European Union to attempt to impose such a restriction, a previous attempt to implement a similar measure in June of last year was halted by France's highest administrative court, citing vagueness and insufficient time for implementation. The revised draft decree identifies twenty-one meat-related names that cannot be applied to plant-based items, while approximately 120 terms like “cooked ham” and “sausage” remain permissible, provided they meet specific plant protein thresholds. The decree becomes effective three months after publication, allowing for an adjustment period.

The Netherlands Becomes First European Country to Approve Tastings of Cultivated Meat

The Dutch government has issued a letter outlining the conditions for allowing tastings of cultivated meat and seafood products in controlled environments in the Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the first European Union country to permit pre-approval tastings of food grown directly from animal cells, prior to obtaining EU novel food approval. The agreement was reached in collaboration with national cultivated meat producers Meatable and Mosa Meat, as well as sector representative HollandBIO. Cultivated product tastings are already permitted in Israel, Singapore, and the United States.

Federal Authorities Take Action Against Maple Leaf Foods for Misleading Claims About Hot Dogs

Maple Leaf Foods is facing repercussions from federal authorities after being accused of misleading advertising regarding their hot dogs, specifically labeling them as a "healthy protein" on their website. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) stepped in after a complaint was lodged by Debbie Wall, a member of Animal Justice Academy. CFIA verified that using the term "healthy" in conjunction with images of hot dogs could be considered misleading. Consequently, Maple Leaf Foods was required to remove the misleading assertions from their website. CFIA guidelines define “healthy” based on Canada's Food Guide, which promotes plant-based protein and discourages processed meats like hot dogs.