Parties on both sides of the lawsuit against the Missouri law that prohibits food manufacturers from using the word meat on products made without animal flesh have been in settlement talks for six months.

However, the talks have ended, and the case will continue as filed.

Attorneys for both sides have remained in contact by phone but say in court filings that they’d reached an impasse.

According to Meating Place Dot Com, the court filings say:

 

“The parties do not believe that additional time will allow for resolution of the impasse.”

“The parties are grateful for the Court’s patience as they attempted to reach a final settlement agreement.”

 

Both parties are asking the court to proceed on the litigation.

Tofurkey is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that says the statute presents not only a risk of criminal prosecution but will also force Tofurkey to change the way it does business.

The court hasn’t yet issued a date for resuming litigation.

A similar lawsuit was also filed in Mississippi, where a law that took effect July 1 prohibits the use of meat terms to describe plant-based foods.

Vegan producer Upton’s Naturals is arguing that the ban violates both the First and Fourteenth Amendments.