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Wisconsin Senator disappointed labeling bills didn’t pass

A Wisconsin State Senator is disappointed some key agriculture bills failed to pass in the recently completed legislative session.

Brownfield discussed the session with 24^th District Senator Patrick Testin at a Farm Bureau event in Stevens Point. “I was disappointed. Some of the big ones that didn’t make it through our house towards the tail end of the session, things like the food labeling bills. You know, obviously, there was some pushback from various groups but from my perspective, this was good for the ag industry in making sure that we have consumer confidence when people go to the store, so they know what they’re buying.”

Testin says there has been a huge push by manufacturers of plant-based proteins. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but at the same time we want to make sure people know exactly what they’re getting because a lot of the packaging that’s out there these days if you’re not paying attention, you can easily pick up a plant-based burger and think you’ve got a beef-based burger.”

And Testin says that the lack of clarity on the package hit home when his wife unknowingly brought home a plant-based beef substitute from the grocery store.

Testin says he’s confident the beef and dairy labeling bills will be reintroduced in the new legislative session for a third try, even though there is some pushback from a few Senators on free speech grounds.