Meati Faces Lawsuit Following Claims Its “Mushroom Root” Products Are Misbranded

Meati, a US startup producing meat alternatives from mycelium, is facing a false advertising class-action lawsuit in New York after a plaintiff alleged that its products are misbranded. The packaging claims the products are made from "mushroom root" and contain "95% Mushroom Root Protein," but the ingredients include Neurospora crassa, a type of red bread mold, not mushrooms. The plaintiff argues that this misinformation led him to pay a higher price for the products and raised concerns about potential allergic reactions, though research does not support this.

This is not the first legal issue for Meati, as the company previously settled a lawsuit in California over similar claims. Despite these challenges, Meati raised over $100 million in funding and expanded into additional retail locations across the US. CEO Phil Graves remains confident in the company's path, citing support from investors, retailers, customers, and employees.