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Italy Becomes Next Country to Propose “Misleading and Backwards” Restrictions on Plant-Based Meat Labels

March 6, 2023 - from Business Insider

"The Italian government becomes the next in a growing list of those proposing restricted labelling on plant-based meat from using “meaty” terms, in a move ProVeg describes as “misleading and backwards.”

"The bill notes that its efforts represent an attempt to protect livestock production in the country, even though animal agriculture is responsible for about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, explains ProVeg.

"Furthermore, the bill argues that if plant-based meat brands use traditional meat terms on their labels, consumers could be confused about their nutritional value when compared to meat.

"Italy joins list of countries taking step backwards Plant-based food labels have been at the centre of a heated debate in Europe, with France, Switzerland, and South Africa trying to remove meat-like terms from labels. ProVeg International has criticised before plant-based labelling restrictions, describing them as “draconian.”

"n Italy, the suggested introduction of the bill comes after regulators and the animal agriculture industry in other countries have attempted to control how plant-based meat and dairy are labelled, argues ProVeg."