原文：https://vegnews.com/2019/7/mississippi-slapped-with-lawsuit-over-unconstitutional-vegan-meat-labeling-restrictions

注：译文谨供参考。

MISSISSIPPI SLAPPED WITH LAWSUIT OVER UNCONSTITUTIONAL VEGAN MEAT LABELING RESTRICTIONS

密西西比州被控其限制纯素肉类标签违反宪法规定

Trade group Plant Based Food Association and vegan brand Upton’s Naturals filed a suit against the state after it enacted legislation that prohibits the use of proper terminology to describe vegan meat.

该州颁布法律禁止使用合适名称描述纯素肉类之后，贸易团体植物性食品协会（PBFA）和纯素品牌公司Upton’s Naturals对其提起了诉讼。

by ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

作者：ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

JULY 2, 2019

2019年7月2日

Today, trade group Plant Based Food Association and one of its founding member companies, vegan meat brand Upton’s Naturals, joined with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to file a lawsuit against the state of Mississippi. The lawsuit was prompted by the state’s enactment of Senate Bill 2922, legislation supported by the state’s cattlemen association that aims to remove labels on vegan foods that use terminology it deems is only appropriate for animal-derived products. 

贸易团体植物性食品协会及其创始成员公司之一Upton’s Naturals（纯素肉类品牌）联合正义研究所（IJ）于今日共同向密西西比州提起诉讼。密西西比州颁布《参议院法案2922》引发了这起诉讼；该项法案获得了本州畜牧者协会的支持，旨在禁止纯素食品标签使用其认为仅适用于动物源性产品的名称。

The new law, according to plaintiffs, infringes upon Upton Naturals’ and other companies’ First Amendment free speech rights and creates public confusion around plant-based products. “People are not confused by terms like ‘veggie burger’ or ‘vegan hot dog,’” IJ Managing Attorney Justin Pearson said. “No one thinks plant-based burgers or vegan hot dogs contain meat. To the contrary, those terms tell consumers that they are buying exactly what they want: a plant-based alternative to animal meat. By banning the terms customers understand best, Mississippi is not only creating confusion, but also violating the First Amendment rights of both sellers and consumers.” 

据起诉人声称，该新法律侵犯了Upton’s Naturals和其他公司享有的美国宪法第一修正案所规定的言论自由权利，并导致了公众对植物性产品的困惑。“像‘素食汉堡’或‘纯素热狗’这样的名称都不会让人们感到困惑，”正义研究所执行律师贾斯廷·皮尔森（Justin Pearson）说道。“没有人认为植物性汉堡或纯素热狗含有肉类。恰恰相反，那些名称告诉广大消费者，他们购买的正好是自己想要的东西：动物肉类的植物性替代品。如果禁止使用顾客最能理解的那些名称，那么密西西比州不但是在制造混淆，而且也侵犯了商家和消费者的第一修正案权利。”

Upton’s Naturals Founder Daniel Staackmann explains that the company uses terms such as “vegan bacon” and “vegan chorizo” to convey to consumers the meat products the company is aiming to replace with seitan and jackfruit. “Our labels are not trying to trick consumers into buying our vegan foods,” Staackmann said. “We aim to clearly communicate what our foods are made from for those actively seeking vegan foods and others considering incorporating them into their diet. Mississippi’s law is not about clearing up consumer confusion, it’s about stifling competition and putting plant-based companies at a disadvantage in the marketplace.”  

Upton’s Naturals公司创始人丹尼尔·施塔克曼（Daniel Staackmann）解释道，本公司使用“纯素培根”和“纯素西班牙香肠”等名称告知消费者，本公司有意采用面筋和菠萝蜜来代替那些肉制品。“我们的标签并不是想要哄骗消费者购买我们的纯素食品，”施塔克曼说道。“有些人在积极寻求纯素食品或者考虑在自己饮食中加入纯素食品，我们目的是向他们清晰传达我们的食品是由什么材料制成的。密西西比州的法律并不是为了清除消费者困惑，而是为了扼杀竞争并在市场上置植物性公司于不利境地。”

Founded in 2016, PBFA currently includes 147 member companies—such as The Tofurky Co., Daiya Foods, and Follow Your Heart—that are creating plant-based alternatives to meat, milk, and other animal-derived foods. The Mississippi lawsuit is part of IJ’s broader National Food Freedom Initiative which aims to protect free speech and economic rights of Americans in the food sector. 

成立于2016年的植物性食品协会目前包含147个成员公司──The Tofurky Co.、Daiya Foods、Follow Your Heart、等等──这些公司正努力创造植物性替代品，用来代替肉类、奶类和其他动物源性食品。这起密西西比州诉讼是属于正义研究所涵盖更广的“全国食品自由倡议”的一部分；该倡议旨在保护美国人在食品领域的言论自由和经济权利。

“The plant-based meat alternative category is on fire right now, with consumers demanding healthier and more sustainable options,” PBFA’s Executive Director Michele Simon said. “This law, along with similar laws in several other states, is the meat lobby’s response to the media attention PBFA members are receiving. Whatever happened to free market competition? We are proud to stand with Upton’s Naturals and the Institute for Justice to protect PBFA members’ First Amendment rights to clearly communicate to consumers.” 

“随着消费者需求更健康、更可持续的选择，植物性肉类替代品这一类产品时下变得很火爆，”植物性食品协会的执行董事米歇尔·西蒙（Michele Simon）说道。“该项法律以及其他几个州的类似法律，是肉类游说团体针对PBFA成员受到媒体关注而作出的反应。自由市场竞争究竟发生了什么？我们很自豪支持Upton’s Naturals和正义研究所去保护PBFA成员向消费者清楚表达的第一修正案权利。”

In addition to Mississippi, nearly 30 states have either proposed or passed similar legislation, including Louisiana which passed its so-called “Truth in Labeling” law in June.

除了密西西比州，还有差不多30个州已提出或通过类似法规，其中包括路易斯安那州亦于六月份通过了其所谓的“真实标签”法律。