Brussels opens a new front: vegan meat substitutes may be renamed

The European Union is proposing a new regulation that would prohibit the use of meat-related terms on plant-based foods, such as "bacon," "ribs," or "sirloin steak." The proposal aims to clearly distinguish between products made from real meat and plant-based alternatives, thereby protecting consumers from misleading labeling. The regulation would ban a total of 29 names traditionally associated with the meat industry – for example, "chicken wing" or "pork chop." The words "burger," "sausage," and "steak" are not yet on the banned list, but they could be at risk as the legislation progresses. The European Parliament may discuss the final text in the coming months. According to the Commission, clarifying the terms would primarily serve the interests of buyers. EU lawmakers believe that using meat-related terms on plant-based products can mislead consumers, who do not always read the ingredients listed on the packaging. The new regulation aims to eliminate this. However, companies ...