Steak, escalope, ham, and entrecôte: France prohibits these designations for plant-based products

Steak, escalope, ham, fillet, entrecôte... a new decree published Tuesday by the French government specifies the list of names reserved for animal products and therefore prohibited for products based on vegetable proteins. The text was a long-standing demand from stakeholders in the animal sector, who believe that terms like “vegetable ham”, “vegan sausage” or “vegetarian bacon” can create confusion among consumers. The government published a first decree in June 2022 but the latter was suspended in summary proceedings by the Council of State. The new text details in particular, in two lists, the terms reserved for products of animal origin or containing very little vegetable protein. Among the "terms whose use is prohibited for the designation of foodstuffs containing vegetable proteins" are: fillet, sirloin, rump steak, escalope, steak, escalope, ham, flank or chuck. Terms “referring to the names of species and groups of animal species, to animal morphology or anatomy” are also ...