Do You Know What's in Your Food?

Should Idahoans know if they’re eating insects or lab-grown fake meat? Members of the Idaho Freedom Caucus think so. Co-chair Rep. Heather Scott presented a bill requiring products containing either of these ingredients to be prominently labeled, ensuring consumers know exactly what’s in their food.

Unfortunately, after testimony from corporate lobbyists, whose clients obviously don’t want to disclose what’s really in your food, the committee voted to kill the bill.

Requiring truthful labels is hardly unreasonable. In 1906, the federal government passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, mandating ingredient labels on food products. Today, we take it for granted that we can check the back of a box of macaroni and know exactly what’s inside.

Now, producers are using insect paste as a filler and protein booster while also trying to replace real meat with lab-grown imitations. Their primary concern is the bottom line, but the jury is still out on the potential health effects. Consumers shouldn’t have to scan through a long list of unpronounceable ingredients just to determine whether their dinner rolls contain insect paste.

The lobbyists implored the committee to let the Federal Government handle the labeling, which is more convenient for their corporate clients. But they had to admit, they had no idea when, or if, the feds would take up the issue. Is begging the federal government for regulation really the Idaho way? We don’t think so.

Florida banned fake meat last year — should Idaho do the same? Not necessarily. We believe in the free market, as long as consumers can make informed choices. If you want to try a cricket taco, that’s your business. Bon appétit!

The best food in the world comes from Idaho. We’re famous for our potatoes, and our beef is top-notch. We even heard a presentation from the Bean Commission recently, highlighting how Idaho beans are loved worldwide. Idahoans should be proud of the food we produce — food that feeds America and beyond.

Novel ingredients like insect paste and fake meat threaten the trust and integrity of Idaho’s food producers. When you pick out a cut of beef at the grocery store, you shouldn’t have to read the fine print to determine whether it came from an Idaho steer or a laboratory.

The Idaho Freedom Caucus will continue fighting for transparency and the rights of citizens to know what’s in the food they buy. The death of the bill was a setback, but the battle has only just begun.