The European Court of Justice has confirmed that producers of plant-based protein foods can continue using terms like “steak”, “burger”, and “sausage” as long as the labels are clear and not misleading. This decision is a major victory for the plant-based sector and stands in opposition to decrees, such as the one in France, which aimed to ban the use of these terms for plant-based foods.
France and the Controversial Decree
The French decree at the heart of the dispute sought to prevent the use of meat-related terms for plant-based products, even when qualified with descriptors like “vegetable” or “soy”. The Court ruled that such national regulations cannot override EU law, which already safeguards consumers through clear and informative labelling. This ruling comes amidst the rapid growth of the plant-based market across Europe.
VEGANOK and the Meat- and Milk-Sounding Debate
VEGANOK, working under the Brussels-based association SAFE, is actively involved in discussions about how plant-based products should be labelled. By participating in a working group on “meat-” and “milk-sounding” initiated by VEGANOK, the aim is to ensure that plant-based products can use names traditionally associated with meat. Sauro Martella, founder of VEGANOK, represents Italy in this initiative, promoting transparency and the right to freely name plant-based products.
Impact of the Ruling and Future Prospects
The European Court’s decision could have implications for other EU member states, such as Italy, where the government has been considering similar legislation to that of France. The future of the plant-based sector looks increasingly bright, with growing acceptance and recognition of its terminology.
Read also: UK, plant-based products labeling under fire
