Prohibit Misbranding of Certain Food Products.

HB 134 requires manufacturers of cell-cultured, insect-based, or plant-based food products to clearly label items that use meat-related terms (like "beef" or "chicken") with specific qualifying terms (such as "cell-cultured," "plant-based," or "insect-based") in prominent, close proximity on packaging. This directly affects food companies producing alternative meat products that might otherwise confuse consumers by mimicking traditional meat names. The bill defines key terms like "identifying meat term" and "qualifying term" to ensure labels are clear and prevent misleading representations. It mandates that products using terms like "beef" or "chicken" must include these qualifiers to avoid being deemed "misbranded" under North Carolina law. The law aims to ensure transparency for consumers about the origin of these food products.