Soon you may not find vegetarian “steak” or “ribs” in a French supermarket. The French government wants to restrict the use of animal names for vegetarian alternatives.
In het kort
- Frankrijk wil dierlijke namen voor plantaardige alternatieven verbieden.
- Boeren en vleesbedrijven strijden al langer tegen namen als ‘vegetarische schnitzel’ omdat ze die misleidend vinden.
- De Franse regering kijkt nu of het verbieden van de namen in strijd is met de EU-regelgeving.
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Farmers and meat companies have long battled terms like “vegan burger” or “vegan sausage.” They claim that these names confuse consumers.
This is not the first time that the names of plant-based meats have been discussed. The European Parliament already voted in 2020 to refer to animal products in meat substitutes. Some say the names are misleading.
Parliament then voted against the proposal. As a result, plant-based burgers are still on shelves everywhere in Europe.
According to the lawyer, the plan contravenes European Union rules
The French court has now asked the Court of Justice of the European Union for advice before issuing a final ruling.
According to the lawyer representing the makers of plant-based alternatives, the plan to ban meat names violates European Union regulations. Animal names such as “spare ribs” do not have a strict legal definition.
If the decision is issued, it will take at least three months before it comes into effect. This gives manufacturers time to adjust their labels.
