Issue: Labeling of products from an animal that received a vaccine
Examples of State Bill(s):
- TN SB99/HB299 – A “Food and Food Products – As introduced, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or delivery, holding, or offering for sale of any livestock carcass, part of any livestock carcass, or meat food product that contains a mRNA vaccine or vaccine material unless the product labeling contains a conspicuous notification of the presence of the mRNA vaccine or vaccine material in the product. – Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 53.”
- AZ HB 2406– requires labeling agriculture as MRNA free
What it means:
- These bills would mandate labeling of vaccines that utilize mRNA technology utilized in food.
Background:
- Vaccines used for animals are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), which assesses safety, efficacy, and quality in all products.
- Proposals to ban mRNA vaccines or misappropriately label meat from animals treated with any type of vaccine would eliminate a vital tool for protecting the United States from a potential infectious disease outbreak and would disincentivize important innovations needed to keep animals healthy. This would harm both animal health and welfare and human health.
Key Talking Points:
- mRNA technology is not new. Scientists have been researching and testing this kind of technology for more than three decades. [1]
- Banning the use of this technology or impacting public perception by requiring labeling would be a setback for animal health and welfare:
- It would halt research, development, and adoption of technologies.
- It would preclude the possibility of finding new and innovative ways to prevent diseases in animals. Such innovations are important for reducing the need for traditional antibiotics and safeguarding our food supply from viral diseases.
- It will leave the U.S. more vulnerable to devastating animal disease outbreaks that could impact not only animal health but human food security.
- Keeping animals healthy rather than treating and mitigating disease saves resources and keeps animals healthy.
Bottom line:
- Vaccines not only protect oneself, but families, neighbors, and communities. They are especially important for children, older adults, and those who are immunocompromised, and those who may not be able to get vaccinated.
- Vaccinations protect individuals from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. They have helped Americans get back to work and to our daily lives.
- Vaccinations in food producing animals are vital to ensure humane treatment of animals in our care and protect our food supply.
- It is critical that as Americans receive information on the benefits of vaccines so they can make informed decisions around vaccination.
- Childhood vaccination programs over the past two decades have saved 1,000,000 lives and over 2 trillion dollars in societal costs. [2]
We urge legislators to vote no on any bills that would negatively impact animal and human health.
[1] https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/the-history-of-the-mrna-vaccines
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/protecting-children.html