Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is highlighting the Florida Farm Bill and its proposal to require honest and accurate labeling for plant-based food products. The proposal will prohibit plant-based food products from being labeled as meat, milk, or poultry – a practice that is currently occurring and is inherently misleading to consumers.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is highlighting the Florida Farm Bill and its proposal to require honest and accurate labeling for plant-based food products. The proposal will prohibit plant-based food products from being labeled as meat, milk, or poultry – a practice that is currently occurring and is inherently misleading to consumers.

Commissioner Wilton Simpson said, “Words matter, and when shoppers pick up a product labeled as ‘milk’ or ‘meat,’ or ‘poultry,’ they shouldn’t have to read the fine print to find out it’s actually made from soy, almonds, or chemicals. This legislation is a commonsense step to eliminate misleading labels and support informed purchases, and I look forward to working with Senator Truenow, Representative Tuck, and legislative leaders on this important legislation.”

Senator Keith Truenow said, “Through this proposal, Florida is taking a bold stand for honesty in labeling. By making it crystal clear what is – and what is not – contained within a food product, consumers can make the most informed choices when purchasing meat, milk, poultry, or plant-based products. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation alongside Representative Tuck.”

Representative Kaylee Tuck said, “No one should have to guess whether the ‘milk’ they’re buying actually comes from a cow. Commissioner Wilton Simpson understands the critical importance of our food supply chain, and this legislation — calling our food products what they are — strengthens Floridians' confidence in the products they purchase.”

Representative Danny Alvarez said, “Misleading consumers should never be an acceptable business practice, and when it comes to labeling foods in Florida, that stops today. We shouldn't need a law to explain to corporate interests that milk is milk and meat is meat but for too long they have used this sleight of hand to trick consumers into thinking there is any equivalency with the actual products produced every day by hard-working Florida farmers and ranchers.”

Senator Danny Burgess said, “Consumers deserve transparency, and Florida is leading the way in ensuring that food labels are honest and accurate. I applaud Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senator Truenow, and Representative Tuck for championing this commonsense issue.”                                             

In addition, the Florida Farm Bill, sponsored by Senator Keith Truenow and Representative Kaylee Tuck, will support Florida agriculture and Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and growers; prohibit ESG lending practices targeting agricultural producers; increase emergency preparedness; support FFA and 4-H programs; expand consumer protections and transparency across a number of regulated industries, and more.

The legislation will introduce a number of proposals across the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ variety of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to:

Preserving Florida’s Working Agricultural Lands

• Returning the decision for solar farms on agricultural land to local government. Clarifying tax structure to incentivize dual use of solar farms with working agriculture.
• Prohibiting the use of drones on or near agricultural lands.

Protecting the Future of Florida’s Agricultural Industry

• Prohibiting financial institutions from discriminating against agricultural producers based on environmental policies or set emission targets.

Reducing the Burden on Florida Farmers

• Providing the opportunity for Floridians to vote on a total exemption of tangible personal property taxes on property classified as agricultural.
• Exempting agricultural materials used in the process of enrolling in, implementing, and maintaining best management practices from taxes imposed in Florida Statutes.

Reloading Florida’s Commitment to the Second Amendment

• Updating Florida’s concealed weapon license application process to eliminate red tape and delays for gun owners.
• Prohibiting the use of drones on state hunting lands or private shooting ranges with the intent to harass.

Increasing Florida’s Emergency Preparedness

• Supporting a reliable and available fuel supply during emergencies through a retail fuel registration program.
• Establishing a grant program for fiscally constrained counties and areas along evacuation routes to purchase generator power switches for fuel stations.

Supporting Florida Consumers

• Creating an "Honest Services Registry," which will feature charitable organizations that do not solicit or include funds from foreign countries of concern.
• Prohibiting charities from registering with the department to solicit charitable contributions if they engage in political activities and have failed to register with the Florida Department of State.
• Prohibiting the mislabeling of plant-based products as “milk” or “meat.”
• Requiring businesses to clearly mark prices on all items and eliminating an outdated law that allowed for pricing to be optional.
• Eliminating the loophole for the sale of psychedelic mushrooms.
• Creating a state felony for stealing checks out of mailboxes from Florida homes and businesses.
• Prohibiting the addition of non-water quality additives to public water systems.

Educating Florida’s Future

• Protecting 4-H and FFA programs in local schools from local governments’ zoning laws by ensuring local programs can have agriculture facilities on school property.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

###