A coalition of major food companies and organizations has issued an open letter to German Members of the European Parliament, expressing concerns over proposed restrictions on the terminology used to describe plant-based meat alternatives. The letter, reported by Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), is signed by companies including Aldi, Lidl, Burger King and Beyond Meat.
The core of the debate centers around a potential ban preventing the use of terms like “sausage” “cutlet” or “burger” to describe products derived from plants. Signatories argue that such a prohibition would undermine efforts to create a robust and diverse food supply chain supported by strong agricultural producers.
Beyond potential economic repercussions, the letter also emphasizes the detrimental impact on consumer choice. Restricting familiar terminology would complicate consumer decision-making and significantly hinder the ability of businesses, particularly those catering to flexitarian consumers actively seeking plant-based alternatives, to effectively market their products. The companies are urging the MEPs to reject the proposed limitations.
The German Ministry of Agriculture, responding to inquiries from FAS, stated its belief that consumers should have the autonomy to make their own dietary choices. The Ministry stressed the importance of transparency and access to information regarding food products available in the market. While acknowledging the need for clear differentiation between traditional animal products and plant-based substitutes, the Ministry generally supports the maintenance of recognizable labels and descriptions.
A vote on the proposal is scheduled for October 7th. The potential restrictions extend beyond common food terms to potentially include designations for animal species, such as “chicken” or “beef”.
