The Beef Lobby’s Losing Fight Against Fake Meat: New at Reason

When you visit a grocery, literal-mindedness is a handicap. Apple butter is actually not a dairy product. Grape-Nuts cereal omits grapes as well as nuts. Corn dogs don’t need leashes.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, however, is appalled that new forms of protein are being sold under names such as Beyond Beef and Impossible Burger. Vegetarian and vegan substitutes for meat have gained a significant share of the market, partly because of health considerations and partly because of aversion to killing harmless animals for food. So of course, writes Steve Chapman, the beef lobby and other special interests want the government to step in and protect them from the plant-based competition.

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