On July 22, a group of organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge an Arkansas law fining companies who market or package vegetarian or vegan meat alternatives donning a “meat” label, such as “burger” or “sausage.”
Under the legislation, even if the label clearly stated “veggie,” “vegan” or “plant-based,” every product with the word “meat” would be subject to fines of up to $1,000.
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Arkansas, The Good Food Institute and the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed the lawsuit on behalf of plant-based producer Tofurky.
“The state of Arkansas thinks you’re confused about whether a veggie burger comes from a cow,” commented Brian Hauss, Staff Attorney, ACLU.
The complaint argues that current labels don’t confuse consumers, citing that Tofurky clearly indicates its foods are vegetarian, vegan, plant-based or meatless.
“The only confusion here seems to be on the part of the Arkansas legislature, which seems to have forgotten its responsibility to its constituents in its rush to pass an unconstitutional law at the behest of its special interest donors,” says Jaime Athos, CEO of Tofurky. “When consumers choose plant-based foods, it is not because they are confused or misled; it is because they are savvy and educated about the health and environmental consequences of eating animal products. What’s really going on here is that the state of Arkansas is seeking to limit access to healthier, more sustainable food choices for its constituents, and it is doing so to benefit the animal agriculture industry.”
The lawsuit also suggests that the legislation is unconstitutional because it breaches the First Amendment by censoring truthful speech and the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause in a bid to impede competition and protect the economic interests of the meat industry.
The meat and dairy industries identified plant-based products as one of the “major challenges” the animal meat industry faced in 2018 and have befriended state legislatures and regulators to enlist their protection.
Speech, Privacy and Technology Project in a blog: “Rather than focusing on genuine consumer concerns — such as rising healthcare and education costs — Arkansas politicians have decided to take on an imaginary crisis: confusing a veggie burger for a hamburger, or almond milk for cow’s milk.”
“It’s absurd and unconstitutional to censor veggie burger labels,” adds Jessica Almy, director of policy, Good Food Institute. “We are bringing this litigation in order to stand up for free speech, free markets and consumer choice. We are confident that the court will strike down this gross overstep of state power.”
The Arkansas law resembles labeling censorship laws recently passed in other states, such as Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Dakota, many of which also face legal challenges

Yes because we vegans are just “TOO STOOPID” to know the difference.Fleshmongers- destroyers of souls for profit- your time is nearing an end.
Dammit Tofurky use reverse psychology and literally label it “MEAT” , “burger” or “sausage.” in quotation marks…and PROMINENTLY ON THE PACKAGE LABEL IT,”CONTAINS NO MUTILATED ANIMAL CORPSES”.
This is absolute proof that something dodgy is going on because they are trying to pass the exact same law in the EU, stating exactly the same reasons:
https://www.plantbasednews.org/culture/petition-eu-veggie-burger-ban
The meat industry is scared and is using underhand tactics to protect itself.They are obvsiously colluding with other meat based groups throughout the world. Nasty and desperate.
This is absolute proof that something dodgy is going on because they are trying to pass the exact same law in the EU, stating exactly the same reasons:
https://www.plantbasednews.org/culture/petition-eu-veggie-burger-ban
The meat industry is scared and is using underhand tactics to protect itself.They are obvsiously colluding with other meat based groups throughout the world. Nasty and desperate.
This is stupid. A waste of time and tax payer money. I can read and know vegan meat has no animal body in it. Whoever put time and effort into this should have worked on an animal protection law instead of thinking people are ignorant.
Kindness and compassion for all animals!
Go vegan ! Do the best you can ! It will save an animal.
This is like the dairy industry wanting the makers of nut milks (almond milk, soy milk, etc.) to remove the word “milk” from their packaging. It’s RIDICULOUS!!
concerning Tofurky lawsuit, this is free speech and as a vegan we all know what we are getting and would never buy meat based products. this makes no sense. put something out here that everyone can sign to get enough signatures to win this. totally not fair. love tofurky.
I pray they succeed.
Stop animal cruelty now!!
Clearly, this is all about money…..what a surprise…free choice and consumer options have always worried those who only see things in terms of $$$$$$. They will use every trick in the book and invoke every facet of the systems that benefit them to protect their bottom line. How ridiculous…. we know a veggie burger is not meat….that’s PRECISELY why we buy it. I know that almond milk does not come from a lactating mammal…that’s PRECISELY why I buy it.
Here’s to Tofurky and like-minded organisations that are trying to advance the importance of vegetarian/vegan options.
It doesn’t matter what the legislatures or the companies say – Call it meat anyway. If every vegan, vegetarian, and supportive carnivore calls it meat -then it’s meat! Look at the word “gay.” I come from a time when gay meant happy. Everyone started using the word to describe homosexuals – and it stuck! Start calling it meat whether they like it or not – it will stick in time.
Im not confused about the labelling on tofurkey products or any other vegan /veg product.thos is crazy! What im reading/hearing
Toughen up laws on animal cruelty. Animals have feelings and suffer far too much in the wrong hands. There is little done to protect these creatures. ÑO TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.
The human exploitation and cruelty towards other creatures needs to be changed and severe punishments for those that are caught.
Stupid idfiots…meat has NOTHING to do with cows, horses or any animal. Have those blind assed idiots never heard the term “the meat of a tomatoe” or “the meat of a potatoe”. Perhaps a fine should be levied against that state, and any other, for stupifdity!!! Brain deadism at it’s finest!!!
Meat is “meat”, simple as that -get a dictionary and look it up!….
GOVERMENT trying to hide, the facts. I dont eat dead animals.