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France bans 'steak' and 'escalope' labels from vegetarian products

February 27, 2024 - from France 24:

"The French government issued a decree Tuesday banning the term 'steak' on the label of vegetarian products, saying it was reserved for meat alone.

"Other terms that can no longer be used for meat-free products include "escalope", "ham", "filet" and "prime rib", according to the decree.

"The ruling is a response to a long-standing complaint by the meat industry that terms like "vegetarian ham" or "vegan sausage" were confusing for consumers.

"It is based on a 2020 law whose application was temporarily suspended by the State Council in June 2022 after a complaint from Proteines France, a consortium of French companies selling plant-based food.

"According to the revised decree published Tuesday, some products containing a small amount of plant-based content can continue to use meaty names, such as merguez sausage, bacon or cordon bleu.

"Producers elsewhere in the European Union can continue to sell vegetarian food with meat names in France.

"Individuals breaking the labelling law can be fined up to 1,500 euros ($1,630), rising to 7,500 euros for companies.

"But producers have one year to sell their existing stock before any penalties are applied, the decree said."

France Decides You Can Use ‘Meat’ on Label for Vegan Foods After All

June 30, 2022 - from The Beet:

"Just weeks after France banned the use of the word 'meat' on vegan food products, the country's higher court overturned the decision after pressure from plant-based companies and consumers who fought the new labeling law

"The French court determined that the ban failed to give plant-based companies appropriate time to comply with the new restrictions. Several plant-based organizations lobbied against the decision including ProVeg International and Proteines France – a consortium of businesses aiming to enhance France’s plant-based industry.

"This ruling is an interim order, meaning that it is unclear how the courts and governments will adapt or disband the labeling restrictions. PrvoVeg international welcomed the suspension, revealing that the court expressed “serious doubts” about the ban’s legal standing."

UPDATE 1-Don't call it meat if it's made with plants, France says

June 30, 2022 - from Reuters:

"France will ban from October the use of meat names like 'steak' and 'sausage' on plant-based protein food, according to a decree published on Thursday, in a bid to avoid confusion over the trendy meat alternatives.

France is the first country in the European Union to impose such a restriction. In 2020, EU lawmakers rejected a similar proposal, backed by farmers.

"The market for plant-based meat-like food has surged, attracting major investment from global agrifood groups hoping to capitalise on a trend towards healthy eating, including less red meat.

"The regulation only applies to products made in France, and the country’s largest farm lobby FNSEA said it did not go far enough as it left the door open to imports.

"French meat industry association Interbev welcomed the implementation of the law initially adopted in 2020, just after the end of the pandemic lockdown.

"Terms like 'milk', 'butter' and 'cheese' are already banned at the European level on products that are not of animal origin.

"The word “burger” used by many brands including U.S. firms Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and Restaurant Brands International Inc’s Burger King to attract consumers, would still be allowed as it does not specifically refer to meat, an Interbev spokesperson said.