Section 1.

Enacts new GS 106-549.28A requiring that the label of any manufactured-protein food product (a cell-cultured food product or insect-protein food product) containing an identifying meat term also contain an appropriate qualifying term in prominent type and in close proximity to the name of the product. Failure for products to do so will be deemed misbranded under Article 29B (Meat Inspection Requirements; Adulteration and Misbranding) provided that the Commissioner cannot enforce the prohibition with respect to a product deemed misbranded under this statute against any person other than the manufacturer of the manufactured-protein food product. Makes a conforming change to the definition of misbranded in GS 106-549.15.

Further adds to and amends definitions in GS 106-549.15, as they apply to Article 29B, as follows. Defines identifying meat term as any word or phrase that states, indicates, suggests, or describes a meat product, regardless of whether the word or phrase is used individually, as a portmanteau, or as a compound word; sets out examples of what is included in the term. Defines cell-cultured food product as a food product having one or more sensory attributes that resemble a type of tissue originating from an agricultural food animal but that, in lieu of being derived from meat processing, is derived from manufacturing cells, in which one or more stem cells are initially isolated from an agricultural food animal, are grown in vitro, and may be manipulated, as part of a manufacturing operation. Defines insect-protein food product as a food product having one or more sensory attributes that resemble a type of tissue originating from an agricultural food animal but that, in lieu of being derived from meat processing, is derived from manufacturing insect parts. Also defines agricultural food animal, close proximity, and qualifying term. Amends the definition of the term meat food product so that it includes products capable of use as human food made wholly or in part from any cell-cultured food product made from cells of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, bison, fallow deer, or red deer.   

Section 2.

Enacts new GS 106-549.55 requiring the label of any manufactured-protein food product containing an identifying poultry term to also contain an appropriate qualifying term in prominent type and in close proximity to the product name. Specifies that responsibility for compliance rests solely with the manufacturer and not the retailer. Amends the definitions in GS 106-549.51, as they apply to Article 49D, Poultry Products Inspection Act, as follows. Defines cell-cultured food product as a food product having one or more sensory attributes that resemble a type of tissue originating from poultry but that, in lieu of being derived from meat processing, is derived from manufacturing cells, in which one or more stem cells are initially isolated from poultry, are grown in vitro, and may be manipulated, as part of a manufacturing operation. Defines close proximity, insect-protein food product, and manufactured-protein food product, as they are defined above. Also defines identifying poultry term and qualifying term. Amends the definition of misbranded so that it also applies to any poultry product that is a manufactured-protein food product that is not labeled in accordance with GS 106-549.55. Amends the definition of poultry product to include any cell-cultured food product made from cells of poultry.

Applies to products sold or offered for sale on or after October 1, 2025.

Section 3.

Amends GS 130A-248 (regulation of food and lodging establishments) to require every establishment that prepares or serves food, that offers for sale or consumption of a food item containing or consisting of a manufactured-protein food product (defined) to clearly and conspicuously disclose that fact on its menu in accordance with the described font size and described warning language that clearly indicates that the item is derived from artificial, imitation, or cell-cultured components. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to enforce these requirements. Contains two defined terms. Authorizes the Commission to adopt rules implementing the menu disclosure requirements.  Effective October 1, 2025, and applies to food items sold, offered for sale, or made available for consumption on or after that date.

 Section 4.

Contains a severability clause. Specifies that the act is effective 30 days after it becomes law unless otherwise provided.