The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 'out of touch' on vegan labels, say beef producers

BEEF producers have hit back hard at the failure of regulatory bodies to stand up to vegan food makers using words like meat and beef on their labels. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's claim such practices were unlikely to mislead consumers, and that most retailers separate beef and plant-based substitutes, has been described as extremely out of touch. "It's very disappointing how regulatory bodies have fallen in behind the talking points put out by alternative protein organisations," Agforce Cattle Board member and food manufacturer Mark Davie said. "It's also disappointing the likes of Coles and Woolies can't provide any level of objective information about the amount of credit they issue because people have returned plant-based products they mistakenly thought were real beef." Indeed, supermarket workers at both regional and city stores - who fear they'd lose their jobs if quoted - say it happens several times a week. They also told Farmonline journalists ...