Are Consumers Really Confused by Plant-Based Food Labels? An Empirical Study

Jareb A. Gleckel (Cornell University), Are Consumers Really Confused by Plant-Based Food Labels? An Empirical Study, J Animal & Envmt’l L. (2021, Forthcoming):

An increasing amount of legislation and litigation, including four current federal cases, addresses how states can and should regulate plant-based food labeling. Plant-based foods contain no animal ingredients but replicate the taste, texture, and function of animal products such as beef, chicken, milk, and butter. Companies typically use the terms “plant-based” or “vegan” on their labels alongside terms like “beef” or “milk” (e.g., “plant-based beef” or “almond milk”) to describe their products to consumers.