Politics & Law

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Swiss Supreme Court Bans Animal-Specific Terms on Vegan Product Labels

Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court has issued a final ruling that prohibits the use of animal-derived terms such as “chicken” and “pork” on the labels of vegan food products. The decision concludes a multi-year legal dispute involving Zurich-based Planted Foods and federal food safety authorities. The ruling states that references to specific animal species on plant-based foods are incompatible with national food labelling law, which requires that product information accurately reflects its contents. Terms traditionally linked to meat from animals are not allowed on vegan items, even when prefaced with qualifiers such as “plant-based” or “vegan.” According to the court, such usage constitutes consumer deception. This decision reverses a 2022 ruling from the Zurich Administrative Court, which had initially found that terms like “planted.chicken” were not …

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UPSIDE Foods Wins First-Round Victory in Court After Challenging Florida Cultivated Meat Ban

After filing a lawsuit against Florida’s cultivated meat ban in August of last year, UPSIDE Foods has been granted an important first-round victory by Chief Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The ruling denies an attempt by the government to dismiss the legal challenge, meaning the case will progress in the trial court. UPSIDE’s lawsuit alleges that Florida’s cultivated meat ban violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution because it was enacted to shield in-state conventional meat producers from out-of-state cultivated meat producers. Furthermore, UPSIDE claims the ban is preempted under federal laws that regulate the interstate market for meat and poultry products. UPSIDE is represented by the nonprofit law firm the Institute for Justice (IJ). …

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World Animal Protection Canada pig

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Canada to Host National Election Debate on Animal Protection

On April 23, a virtual debate focused on animal protection policies will bring together federal candidates from four major Canadian political parties. The event, held via Zoom, will be conducted in both English and French with simultaneous translation, and is open for media observation and public registration. The debate is organized by Animal Justice, the Montreal SPCA, the Vancouver Humane Society, the BC SPCA, and World Animal Protection. It marks only the second time a national debate dedicated to animal welfare has been held during a Canadian federal election campaign. Cross-party voices join the conversation Confirmed participants include Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Liberal, Beaches—East York), Alistair MacGregor (NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford), Elizabeth May (Green Party, Saanich—Gulf Islands), and Yves Perron (Bloc Québécois, Berthier-Maskinongé). All federal parties with representation in …

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In the Wake of MAHA, Is 2025 the Year to Finance Food Fast?

Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech™ Invest, an Advisor to a food innovation ETF. She is a consultant to multi-national companies focused on sustainability and an Advisor to C-Suite interested in understanding the growth and whitespaces in the food industry. She is also the host of the podcast, The Plantbased Business Hour on iTunes and vegconomist. In a recent Upside & Impact: Investing for Change podcast episode, Elysabeth Alfano explored the urgency of food system transformation with Ertharin Cousin, CEO of Food Systems for the Future and former Executive Director of the World Food Programme. The discussion highlighted the need for smart capital, policy alignment, and a patient investment approach in the wake of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. In the Wake of MAHA, Is 2025 …

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European Commission Commits to Developing a Protein Diversification Plan

Earlier this year, European Parliament members Anna Strolenberg and Sigrid Friis wrote a letter to Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, calling on him to develop an EU strategy on protein diversification. The letter was supported by a broad coalition of MEPs from across the political spectrum. The MEPs urged the European Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to support alternative proteins, including targeted support to help farmers and value chain actors scale up protein crop production. They also called for strengthened investments in innovation, positioning the EU as a global leader in sustainable protein development. Now, Strolenberg and Friis have received a response from Hansen, indicating that the Commission commits to developing a comprehensive plan to tackle Europe’s protein challenges. The plan will reportedly take a …

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Mississippi Becomes Third State to Ban Lab-Grown Meat, Following Florida and Alabama

Mississippi has become the third state in the United States to enact a law prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat. Governor Tate Reeves declined to sign House Bill 1006, which effectively bans lab-grown meat in the state, but because he did not veto it, the bill will still become law. The bill, passed unanimously by both the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate, will become law on July 1, 2025. It establishes penalties for violations, including a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time of up to three months. Legislative background The legislation was introduced by Republican Representatives Bill Pigott and Lester Carpenter in January 2025 and is the first anti-cultivated meat bill to pass during the current legislative session. …

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Scientists argue that a shift to plant-based diets, a global phaseout of industrialized animal farming, and a global standardization of climate change metrics are effective measures to reduce global warming.

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Climate Change Committee Report Tells UK Government to Slash Meat & Dairy Consumption

The UK government’s official climate advisor, the Climate Change Committee, has published its Seventh Carbon Budget. The report provides recommendations for reducing carbon emissions, including advice on replacing meat and dairy with alternative proteins. The recommendations include: “The right direction” A previous Climate Change Committee report published in 2023 was critical of the UK government’s progress towards adopting climate mitigation measures, noting that legislators had not set out plans to support the public in shifting to low-carbon diets. The authors found that a 20% reduction in meat and dairy consumption by 2030 could reduce emissions by 5 MtCO2e. A recent analysis by GFI Europe found that the UK government has invested £75 million in alternative protein innovation so far, making the country Europe’s second-largest public …

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Mycelium bacon on a plate - CellX unveils its mycelium fermentation programme

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New Chinese Government Documents Indicate Support for Alternative Proteins & Novel Foods

Two new documents released ahead of the Chinese government’s annual Two Sessions Summit have raised hopes of increased support for alternative proteins in the country. As reported by GFI APAC, the first document is an official notice from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs outlining “Key Areas of National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation” for 2024-2028. It identifies agricultural processing and food manufacturing as a priority, including research into novel foods to “create a new generation of food to meet new scenarios and special needs”. The document also mentions the importance of agricultural product quality and safety, including studies to assess the safety and nutritional efficacy of alternative proteins and other novel resources. This could potentially accelerate the development of a regulatory approval framework …

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Georgia Bill Seeks to Restrict Meat Labeling for Plant-Based and Cultivated Products

A bill introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives aims to impose new labeling requirements on plant-based and cell-cultured meat products in the state’s food service industry. House Bill 163, sponsored by Republican Representative Jordan Ridley, would require restaurants and other food vendors to disclose whether their food contains cell-cultured meat, plant-based alternatives, or both. The proposed law would amend Article 13 of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Georgia Code, which regulates food service establishments. If passed, the bill would legally define “conventional meat” as any food product “made wholly or in part from the carcass of any animal, including, but not limited to, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, fish, shellfish, and poultry.” Products containing plant-based or cell-cultured ingredients would be required to be …

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Food Industry Stakeholders & MEPs From Across the Political Spectrum Gather in Support of Protein Diversification

At a recent event at the European Parliament, food industry stakeholders such as meat processors, plant-based companies, and farmers joined MEPs from various political parties to support protein diversification. The event was centred around a new position paper from nonprofit organisation SustainableFoundations, which outlines how polarised views on the future of proteins could be reconciled to build a more sustainable future. The gathering was reportedly a great success, with over 90 stakeholders, commission members, and representatives in attendance. Speaking at the event, MEP Cabral from the European People’s Party Group said the conservatives would work towards protein diversification, adding that it was important to collaborate to develop concrete solutions. MEP Friid of Renew suggested taking inspiration from Denmark, which became the first country to adopt …

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South Dakota Becomes Latest US State to Propose a Cultivated Meat Ban

A legislative committee in South Dakota has put forward a bill that would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat in the state. As reported by South Dakota Searchlight, the bill has already gained the approval of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee with an 8-5 vote. Furthermore, another bill that would restrict state spending on cultivated meat has gained unanimous approval. However, more steps are required for the bills to become law, and both will need to pass the state House of Representatives. The news comes just weeks after a bill to ensure the clear labeling of cultivated meat products passed both chambers in the state. It is currently awaiting a decision by the governor. Alabama and Florida have already banned …

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Are Lobbyists Losing the Battle to Restrict Plant-Based Labelling in Europe?

The past few years have seen attempts by lobbyists in several European countries to restrict the way plant-based products can be labelled, with apparent success in some cases. However, recent developments indicate that the tide may be turning in favour of plant-based companies. A Czech minister recently confirmed that plans to restrict the labelling of plant-based products would be abandoned, following significant backlash from consumers and industry. The proposed restrictions would have prevented meat alternatives from being described using terms such as “burgers” or “sausages”, making it difficult for companies to market their products. In France, decrees preventing plant-based food companies from using terms such as “steak” or “sausage” have been annulled after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that they were …

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Czech Government Abandons Plans to Restrict Labelling of Plant-Based Foods

The Czech government has abandoned a proposed amendment that would have restricted the use of terms such as “soy sausage” and “mushroom schnitzel”. It comes after the planned changes faced widespread backlash, as businesses worried about the potential negative impact on their profits and consumers feared that purchasing plant-based products would become more complicated. ProVeg Czechia and Rostlinně, a Czech project that promotes plant-based cooking, also campaigned against the amendment. “We don’t want to meddle in people’s lives,” Minister Marek Výborný announced on X last week. “I trust producers to label their products fairly so that every customer knows exactly what they’re buying. Conversely, customers are competent and know what they’re purchasing. I really don’t have the ambition to educate people.” The abandonment of the …

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La Vie ham

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France Overturns Restrictions on Plant-Based Food Labels After EU Ruling

The French Council of State has annulled two government decrees that sought to prohibit plant-based food producers from using terms traditionally associated with animal-based products, such as “steak” and “sausage.” The decision follows a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which found that such national restrictions conflict with European regulations. The legal dispute dates back to 2020, when the French Parliament introduced a law barring the use of meat-related terminology for marketing plant-based products. This was later reinforced by a government decree issued in June 2022, followed by an updated decree in February 2024. However, several companies and professional associations challenged these restrictions, arguing they were incompatible with EU law. Before making its final ruling, the Council of State sought …

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Uncommon bacon

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South Dakota and South Carolina Advance Bills Mandating Clear Labeling of Cultivated Meat

Lawmakers in South Dakota and South Carolina have advanced bills requiring cultivated meat products to be clearly labeled, reflecting the growing interest in transparency for consumers navigating alternative proteins. South Dakota on defining “cell-cultured protein” Last week, South Dakota’s House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved House Bill 1022, which would mandate labeling for lab-grown meat products, defined as “cell-cultured protein.” The bill, proposed by the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), now moves to the full House of Representatives. The legislation specifies that cell-cultured protein refers to products “made wholly or in part from any cell culture or the DNA of a host animal, grown or cultivated outside a live animal.” Any such product not labeled as “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” would …

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130+ Organisations Demand EU Action Plan on Plant-Based Foods

Over 130 organisations have written to Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, asking him to develop an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods by 2026. The groups represent several interests, including farmers, health professionals, consumers, animal welfare, and the environment. Among them are BEUC, ProVeg International, Greenpeace, IFOAM, Rainforest Action Network, Compassion in World Farming, and Freshfel. The signatories are calling for a plan to strengthen the entire plant-based agri-food chain, from farmer to consumer. They have urged the Commissioner to ensure the plan’s development is included in the Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food, which is expected in late February. Hansen has previously failed to commit to drafting the plan by 2026. It is suggested that the plant-based action …

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How the New US Administration Will Impact Food Systems Transformation

Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech™ Invest, an advisor to a food innovation ET, and a consultant to C-Suite of multinational companies. She speaks internationally on the intersection of investing, sustainability, and food systems transformation and is also the host of the podcast, Upside & Impact: Investing for Change. This article, co-written by the fractional associate director of coms & research at VegTech™ Invest, Gwendolyn Brown, explores how the new US administration may influence food systems transformation, addressing bipartisan issues like food insecurity, climate change, and the role of food innovation in national security and global competition. How the New US Administration Will Impact Food Systems Transformation Of late, I have been getting this question a lot: “How will the Trump Administration impact US …

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Governor Jim Pillen nebraska

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Nebraska Moves to Ban Cultivated Meat, Calling It “Unproven” and “Adulterated”

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, in collaboration with state senators, has announced the introduction of three new bills aimed at bolstering traditional agriculture in the state. Among these is Legislative Bill 246 (LB246), which seeks to ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat products in Nebraska.  Governor Pillen stated during a press conference, “As the first farmer-governor in more than 100 years, I know how important it is that we take steps to preserve our way of life, for the benefit of those who consume our products. “We feed the world and save the planet. To ensure that we can do that for generations to come, we need to take steps that protect our water supply, the data that farmers use to improve their …

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ProVeg Calls for Restructuring of EU Agriculture Subsidies to Prioritise Sustainable Crops

In a new policy brief, ProVeg International has called for the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies to be restructured to prioritise sustainable crop production. According to the policy brief, subsidies should incentivise farming that enhances nature, improves rural livelihoods, and minimises social and economic costs. ProVeg notes that some agricultural practices have consequences such as deforestation, soil degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss; in response, production may be intensified even further, creating a vicious cycle of harm. Along with incentives for sustainable crop production, the policy brief also recommends “true-cost accounting” for food production. It argues that if subsidies were allocated according to the true cost of food — accounting for factors such as environmental impact and the economic and human cost of …

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Meati Faces Lawsuit Following Claims Its “Mushroom Root” Products Are Misbranded

Meati, a US startup producing meat alternatives from mycelium, is facing a false advertising class-action lawsuit in the state of New York after a plaintiff alleged that the company’s products are misbranded. Meati’s packaging claims that the meat alternatives are “Made From Mushroom Root” and contain “95% Mushroom Root Protein”. However, the plaintiff, Mario Burns, alleges that this is false because the products are not predominantly made from mushrooms. Instead, the mycelium used originates from Neurospora crassa, a type of red bread mold. This has been disclosed by Meati on its website. Burns argued that he would not have paid such a high price for the products had he known they contained Neurospora crassa, and expressed concern that the consumption of this ingredient could cause …

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