Indiana State Revokes Food Truck Over Suggestive Slogan

The Indiana State Personnel Department revoked the participation of the food truck Smash Daddy’s Burgers, Fries, Etc. in the Indiana Statehouse's weekly market. State officials canceled two upcoming sessions in August and September, citing complaints about the business's slogan, "you’ll love our meat in your mouth."

Owner Scott Sims described the decision as "ridiculous" and "censorship," noting the tagline had been part of his branding for 20 years with very few complaints. Sims expects the removal to result in a revenue loss between $4,000 and $5,000. Despite citing complaints as the catalyst for the move, the department later admitted that no responsive written records of those complaints exist.

Kirollos Barsoum, the department's communications director, defended the action by stating that vendor participation is by invitation and remains at the agency's discretion. Legal experts, including a professor from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, suggested the move may have First Amendment implications. They argued that provocative business slogans typically do not meet the legal threshold for obscenity required for government regulation.