47.016: Cultivated-Protein and Food Misbranding Compliance Policy

1. Purpose

   This policy establishes institutional requirements to ensure compliance with Ohio law governing the labeling, purchase, and use of alternative protein, imitation meat, and imitation egg products, consistent with Ohio House Bill 10 and section 3313.9110 of the Revised Code and other related provisions.

   Ohio university is committed to ensuring food sold or served on campus is accurately labeled and that university purchasing practices meet state requirements.

2. Scope

   This policy applies to:

   1. All university culinary, dining, and catering services; 
   2. All departments purchasing food products for institutional use;
   3. All campus retail food operations;
   4. Any university-sponsored meal programs;
   5. All employees involved in food procurement, preparation, or distribution.

3. Definitions

   For the purposes of this policy:

   1. Manufactured or cultivated protein product: A food product derived from animal cells grown in a controlled environment rather than harvested from slaughtered animals.
   2. Imitation meat product / imitation egg product: A food product that uses meat or egg-related terminology but is not derived from harvested livestock or poultry.
   3. Misbranded product: Any food product that uses meat or egg terms without a clear and prominent qualifying descriptor such as “plant-based” or “imitation,” 
   4. Qualifying label: Language displayed conspicuously on packaging or signage that clearly identifies the product’s nontraditional source.

4. Policy requirements

   The university shall not purchase any food that is misbranded as meat product or an egg product:

   1. Meat products

      Food is considered misbranded as meat product if all of the following apply:

      1. The food is a manufactured-protein food product or contains a manufactured-protein food product;
      2. The food is offered for sale by a food processing establishment;
      3. The product label includes an identifying meat term; and
      4. The label does not contain a conspicuous and prominent qualifying meat term in close proximity to the identifying meat term.

   2. Egg products

      Food is considered misbranded as an egg product if all of the following apply:

      1. The food is a fabricated-egg product or contains a fabricated-egg product;
      2. The food is offered for sale or sold by a food processing establishment;
      3. The product label includes an identifying egg term; and
      4. The label does not contain a conspicuous and prominent qualifying egg term in close proximity to the identifying egg term.

   3. Labeling standards

      All imitation meat, imitation egg, or cultivated protein products offered or sold on campus must:

      1. Display a clear qualifying label immediately adjacent to any meat or egg term; and
      2. Ensure the qualifying label is equally prominent and readable.
      3. Products that fail to meet these standards may not be sold, served, or distributed through university operations.

   4. Purchasing restrictions

      1. The university shall not purchase cultivated protein products for institutional meal programs and as defined in section 3715.601 of the Revised Code.
      2. Departments may not procure misbranded imitation meat or egg products using university funds.
      3. All purchasing must comply with applicable state requirements and university procurement policies.

5. Research and academic exceptions

   Cultivated protein products as described in paragraph C, may be purchased or used solely for:

   1. Academic instruction;
   2. Scientific research; or 

   3. Demonstration purposes; 

      provided such products are not served as part of a meal program and are clearly identified as research materials. 

6. Enforcement

   The university is committed to active enforcement of this policy and to ensuring all procurement and campus food operations comply with applicable Ohio law. 

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   There are no forms specific to this policy. 

2. References

   The following items are relevant to this policy:

   1. Ohio House Bill 10

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and Reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected Review site.

   Prior versions of this policy were approved on:

   1. February 17, 2026 (approved for interim use in accordance with policy 01.001)