Your dinner plate is ground zero for the next battle for free speech. Meet Florida House Bill 433. This legislation is attempting to expand food disparagement regulations - making it one of the broadest of its kind in the country.

Food disparagement laws make it illegal to knowingly make false statements about perishable food products - such as meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, etc. This is intended to protect the agricultural industry and food producers from claims that could cause financial harm. These food disparagement laws are commonly referred to as “veggie libel laws” because they are often used against animal rights and vegetarian activists.

Essentially, Florida took one look at veggie liable laws and said hold my beer. House bill 433 will broaden their current food disparagement laws. This legislation removes the word per ...