Rome, 03/12/2024
VEGANOK, the leading certification body for vegan products in Italy, is championing a collective effort to defend the plant-based sector against growing restrictions on descriptive terms such as “vegan cheese.” In partnership with Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE), a Brussels-based non-profit dedicated to consumer rights and sustainable food policies, VEGANOK is leading a working group that unites major vegan organisations across Europe.
A strategic Position Paper for advocacy and the sector’s future
The initiative promoted by VEGANOK and SAFE aims to draft a Position Paper to support advocacy efforts with European institutions. This document will raise policymakers’ awareness of the restrictions on descriptive terms and serve as a strategic tool for businesses, associations, and the media. It will foster fairer policies and encourage constructive dialogue about the future of the plant-based market in line with the EU’s sustainability goals.
A growing sector under attack: the Italian case and the European context
The urgency of this collective action has been heightened by the recent case of Caseificio Vegano di Barbara Ferrante & C., a vegan cheese producer in Bologna, which the Italian Ministry of Agriculture warned for using the word “cheese” to describe its plant-based products. This incident reflects a broader trend of restrictive regulations across Europe, penalising the plant-based sector, hindering its growth, and limiting access to sustainable products.
According to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, terms like “cheese” are legally reserved for dairy products derived exclusively from animal milk. As a result, plant-based alternatives cannot use these terms, even when clearly accompanied by qualifiers such as “vegan” or “plant-based.” In some EU member states, including Italy and France, this principle has been extended to “meat-sounding” terms like “burger” or “sausage,” creating additional barriers for plant-based products that emulate meat.
Sauro Martella, Founder of VEGANOK: “A fight for the sector’s future”
“Our commitment isn’t just about defending words—it’s about ensuring that the plant-based sector can grow without unnecessary and unjustified obstacles,” says Sauro Martella, founder of VEGANOK and initiator of the SAFE working group.
“Current regulations fail to account for the genuine needs of consumers and the potential of an ethical and innovative market that is helping build a more sustainable future. We are advocating for a Europe that values transparency, supports innovation, and facilitates the transition to a fairer and more responsible food system.”
VEGANOK and SAFE: united for consumers and sustainability
The SAFE working group addresses critical issues for the sector’s future:
- Consumer protection: research shows that terms like “vegan cheese” or “plant-based burger” do not confuse consumers but help them understand product characteristics.
- Market growth: restricting the use of descriptive terms stifles an expanding sector with the potential to create thousands of jobs.
- Access to sustainable choices: hindering clear communication about these products undermines the sustainability goals of the European Green Deal.
This initiative calls on the European Commission to ensure fair and forward-looking regulations that promote a shift towards sustainable eating without penalising businesses or consumers.
A message for the future
“We are at a turning point: the decisions we make today will shape the future of our food system. Defending vegan products means championing innovation, transparency, and sustainability—values that should be at European policies’ heart, ” Martella concludes.
For further information:
Press Office VEGANOK: www.veganok.com
E-mail: [email protected]
