Beef better than imitation

Beyond Meat, the Impossible Burger… cattlemen are closely watching the flurry of alternative proteins coming on the market. How's the National Cattlemen's Beef Association responding? Senior director of government affairs, Danielle Beck.

I think that imitation is the finest form of flattery when it comes to how we respond, we’ve got a really great story The data is on our side and so is the scientific evidence. And so we at NCBA, we're encouraging our producers to continue sharing their story, because if you look at beef consumption this year, it is the fourth year in a row that consumption and demand for beef has increased. It’s at an all time high. Consumers love beef. They want to continue eating beef. And they just need no reason to feel good to continue doing so. And so as long as our producers are out there telling their story and continuing to communicate to consumers that it's a safe, affordable, nutritious product, we know that consumers are going to continue buying it.”

Beck updated attendees at an ABA Ag Bankers Conference on how the battle for market share is faring. She was asked about the fake meat industry's claim that they have an environmentally superior product.

There's some more data. If you look at what these companies are saying, the you know, their life cycle assessments are not based in sound science. Beef has a really great story to tell, especially when it comes to the environmental footprint. You know, the CEOs who are saying they want to put animal agriculture out of business have yet to really consider what sort of widespread ramifications there would be of taking, you know, a major economic driver out of rural communities across the U.S.. You know, there's a good bit of land here across the country where you can't produce other crops. And if there isn't cattle grazing that land managing it, what happens there? I mean, the benefits of grazing are widespread. beef producers are glad to see the issue gaining attention in Washington.

Members of Congress, Representatives Marshall and Brindisi introduced legislation called the Real Meat Act. We had FDCPA are so grateful to those legislators and for their willingness to take a lead on this important issue. We are working with champions in the Senate on a companion bill, and we are encouraging all of our members out there to get in touch with their legislators at the federal level and encourage them to sign on and co-sponsor, because we believe it is a positive step in the right direction. It will ensure that FDA is required to enforce the law. And it sets a very clear parameters around how imitation products need to be labeled.

That specific word imitation should be prominent on the label, Beck says. NCBA's Danielle Beck spoke at the American Bankers Association's Egg Bankers Conference in Dallas. I'm Joe connealy.