Despite having its plan suspended for being ‘too vague’, France is once again trying to ban plant-based meat labels it says are ‘misleading’
France has reignited the feud against plant-based meat labels.
Last year, the country attempted to become the first in the EU to ban terms like ‘steak’ and ‘ribs’ on meat alternative products, arguing they are ‘misleading’ to consumers.
However, the proposal was suspended by the country’s highest administrative court just a month later for being ‘too vague’ – as well as issues with timing.
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‘Transparency and loyalty’
Now, France has unveiled fresh proposals to implement a similar policy which would prohibit the use of 21 different meat names being used to describe plant-based products.
These include ‘spare ribs’, ‘ham’, ‘steak, ‘escalope’ and even the term ‘butcher’. The rules will only apply to products made and sold in France.
According to The Telegraph, French agriculture minister Marc Fesneau said: “This new draft decree reflects our desire to put an end to misleading claims… by using names relating to meat products for foodstuffs that do not contain them.
“It’s an issue of transparency and loyalty which meets a legitimate expectation of consumers and producers.”
Despite having its plan suspended for being ‘too vague’, France is once again trying to ban 21 different meat names it says are ‘misleading’. Photo © Sundry Photography via Adobe Stock
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Are plant-based meat labels confusing?
Fesneau’s claims around misleading consumers contradicts research into plant-based meat labels.
Last year, vegan organisation ProVeg surveyed 1,000 UK-based respondents over descriptors such as ‘animal-free’, ‘meatless’, ‘meat-free’, ‘100 percent plant-based’, ‘plant-based’, ‘veggie’, ‘vegan’, and ‘vegetarian’.
It found more than 80 percent of consumers think it’s obvious that products labelled as ‘vegan’, ‘vegetarian’ and ‘plant-based’ do not contain meat.
Moreover, 76 percent event stated that the labels helped them to understand and identify the nature of the product.
“Our hope is that these results will contribute towards creating a favourable regulatory and labelling landscape for plant-based products, particularly at a time when we’re seeing uncertainty around such topics in Europe,” ProVeg’s Stephanie Jaczniakowska-McGirr said.
New to veganism? Check out our handy guide to reading food labels for vegans
Featured photo © ChayTee via Adobe Stock
