Truth in Buffalo Labeling Needed to Protect the Industry

National Bison Association Executive Director, Jim Matheson says that they are attempting for a second time to get a truth and buffalo labeling act pushed through Congress. He is in hopes that it will be included in a 2023 farm bill.

“All it does is require water buffalo to be labeled as water buffalo and buffalo because we Americans know buffalo as bison or buffalo. And under current FDA regulations, water buffalo can be labeled simply as Buffalo for human consumption, which is obviously an issue to our food security.”

Furthermore, National Bison Association says due to a regulatory loophole, water buffalo can be labeled simply as Buffalo under current Food and Drug Administration policy. He says so far, the response has been good and is optimistic that this act will go through.

“The reception we're getting back from Congress says that this is a very fair and simple app. There's no money involved, which always helps and they foresee this being included in the farm bill in the market bill.”

The National Bison Association’s, Truth in Buffalo Labeling Act has been introduced in both the Senate and the House. The bipartisan bill provides the Food and Drug Administration with the authority to ensure that products with water buffalo are labeled as water buffalo so consumers are not misled to believe the product contains bison. Bison products will continue to be labeled as bison or buffalo. Bison products will continue to be labeled as bison or buffalo.