This strangely named outfit wants to make sure that those who question food additives, pesticides, eating habits or any variety of products are not muzzled by libel suits. Even if those who question, say, genetically engineered soybeans, could prevail in a trial, the legal harassment can eat up huge amounts of time and money. Hence, people censor themselves, and questions that should be asked are not. The story notes that 13 states have so-called veggie libel laws. Companies aren't without protection, however.
Most states have business or trade libel laws.
The difference with veggie libel is that a specific company does not have to show harm, as is the case with regular business libel and, in some cases, the veggie libel laws shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant. The best remedy for speech is more speech. The marketplace of ideas cannot work without a robust exchange of ideas. The Foodspeak Coalition is right to try to get these laws repealed, to prevent their enactment in other states and to support efforts to overturn them in the courts. The recall for Grandma's Homestyle Fudge Chocolate Chip Big Cookies is nationwide, Irvin said in a statement.