Labeling

Carbon labels

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Studies & Numbers

Study: Consumers Are Significantly Less Likely to Choose Animal-Based Meals When Well-Designed Carbon Labels Are Present

A new study has investigated the impact of an improved carbon label design on food choices. It finds that consumers are significantly less likely to opt for animal-based meals when made aware of their environmental impact. Previous research has indicated that the impact of carbon labels is small; however, the labels used in these studies were sometimes quantitative only, presenting a number with little context as to whether it was high or low. The labels also failed to clarify the difference in emissions between plant-based and animal-based products. The new study addresses these limitations by introducing new “item mapping” labels, designed to link emissions to food items. The labels feature a carbon score ranging from A (low emissions) to E (high emissions), along with icons …

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woman reading food label

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Charity & Campaigns

New Zealand Societies Submit Petition Calling for Clearer Labelling of Vegan Products

The Vegan Society of Aotearoa and the New Zealand Vegetarian Society have formally submitted a petition to ban the misleading labelling of vegetarian and vegan products. The societies note that there is currently no legislation in New Zealand to define what counts as vegan or vegetarian, resulting in consumer confusion. Consequently, they are calling for standardised, legally enforceable labelling requirements to support consumers in making informed purchasing decisions. The current Food Standards Code provides a foundation for foodlabelling requirements, but does not make specific provisions for vegan andvegetarian labelling. The societies argue that this is detrimental not just to vegans, but also to those with allergies to animal products such as dairy and eggs. “We want to help consumers make ethical choices simply and easily,” …

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A cultivated chicken sandwich

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Politics & Law

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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mother with daughter in supermarket

Image courtesy ProVeg International
Politics & Law

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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La Vie ham

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Politics & Law

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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Politics & Law

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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Lidl International X WWF

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Company News

Lidl Targets 20% Increase in Plant-Based Sales by 2030 in Partnership with WWF

Lidl has announced new sustainability targets aimed at promoting plant-based eating across its 31 international markets. In collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the retailer has committed to increasing the proportion of plant-based foods sold by 20% by 2030, compared to 2023 levels. This initiative is part of Lidl’s broader effort to align its product offerings with the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) guidelines by 2050. Lidl’s strategy, dubbed “Conscious Nutrition,” includes using WWF’s Planet-Based Diets Retailer Methodology to evaluate and expand its product range. This methodology provides a framework for developing sustainable and health-focused food options, encompassing protein sources, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The retailer plans to implement national targets across all its markets to support its international goal. Stefan Haensel, senior vice …

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microbial protein Formo cheese gratin

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Fermentation

GFI and Accenture Release Precision Fermentation Consumer Research Across Five Markets

A recent study by the Good Food Institute (GFI), conducted in collaboration with Accenture, has examined consumer attitudes and preferences toward precision fermentation (PF) products in five key markets: France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research explores how consumers perceive PF-produced dairy and egg ingredients, offering insights into effective communication strategies for this emerging food technology. Precision fermentation and its applications Precision fermentation uses microorganisms, such as yeast, to produce specific proteins found in animal-based products, including dairy and eggs. These proteins, identical to those in conventional animal products, serve functional purposes such as enabling cheese to stretch or eggs to bind in recipes. PF products can either serve as ingredients incorporated into larger food items (e.g., whey protein in …

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FDA headquarters

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Politics & Law

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Labeling Plant-Based Foods: What Brands Need to Know

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released draft guidelines aimed at improving transparency in the labeling of plant-based alternatives to animal-derived foods. While this document is non-binding, it gives plant-based brands a preview of what the FDA considers best practices for labeling—and a potential roadmap for future regulations. These recommendations cover plant-based substitutes for eggs, seafood, poultry, meat, and dairy products under FDA jurisdiction, excluding plant-based milk, which is addressed in separate guidance. According to the FDA, the goal is to ensure that “consumers understand the nature or source of individual plant-based alternative foods, including differences among these products, and have the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.” Clearer statements of identity A key focus of the guidance is the statement …

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Bezmasna plant-based butcher shop

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Politics & Law

Czech Government Prepares Amendment to Restrict Use of Meat-Like Terms for Plant-Based Products

The Czech government is preparing an amendment that will prevent producers of plant-based products from using terms such as “mushroom schnitzel”, “soy sausage” or “bean burger”. The amendment has ostensibly been proposed to protect consumers, but ProVeg Czechia argues that it will have the opposite effect. According to the organisation, the proposed legislation will confuse shoppers and harm plant-based companies. ProVeg claims that the amendment is intended to protect the meat industry rather than consumers, and will disrupt fair competition. The results of a YouGov survey commissioned by ProVeg Czechia confirm that most consumers are in favour of the use of meat-like terms for plant-based foods; 7 out of 10 respondents supported the continued use of names such as “soy sausage” and “vegan schnitzel”, while …

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oatly post milk generation

© Oatly
Politics & Law

Oatly’s “Post Milk Generation” Trademark Rejected by UK Court Amid Dairy Industry Pushback

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that Swedish plant-based drink brand Oatly cannot use the slogan “Post Milk Generation” on its food and beverage products, a decision that overturns a previous ruling by the High Court. The decision marks the latest chapter in a prolonged legal dispute between Oatly and Dairy UK, the trade association representing the UK’s dairy industry. The case has been ongoing since 2019, when Oatly registered the slogan as a trademark with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Dairy UK contested the trademark, arguing that the term “milk” should only be used to describe products derived from mammals, in accordance with European Union regulations on agricultural products. Specifically, Article 78(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 stipulates that terms like “milk” …

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Veggy Kids burger- For the first time, the Turkish Food Codex Guide for Food Labeling and Consumer Information has introduced new regulations to provide clear guidelines on the labeling of vegan and vegetarian products

© Veggy

Politics & Law

Turkey Introduces Regulations for Vegan Product Labeling for the First Time

For the first time, the Turkish Food Codex Guide for Food Labeling and Consumer Information has introduced new regulations to provide clear guidelines on the labeling, production, and marketing of vegan and vegetarian products. Using terms such as “milk” for plant-based beverages is prohibited, while traditional or geographical names associated with animal products cannot be used to prevent deceptive food packaging and misleading claims. But the new regulations also bring good news. ‘Vegan burgers,’ ‘vegan sausage,’ or ‘vegetarian patty’ terms are allowed on plant-based meat labels, and the production, export, and import of vegan cheese is now possible “under certain labeling conditions.” In 2022, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry banned the production and sale of vegan products that resemble dairy cheese, as they …

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Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA)

© Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA)
Politics & Law

Massachusetts Backs Tufts University With $2.1M for New Cell Ag Center While Nebraska Pushes for Beef Protection

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) have awarded $2,136,711 to the Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA) to establish the Foodtech Engineering for Alternative Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) center. FEAST aims to advance cellular agriculture research at Tufts, with a specific focus on cultivated meat and other cell-based products. The center will include cutting-edge equipment and a test kitchen, providing infrastructure for prototyping and evaluating cellular agriculture products. It will also allow academic and business partners to use these facilities fee-for-service. Aligned with the manufacturing institute BioMADE, sponsored by the Department of Defense, the project is expected to create 60 new jobs in the bioindustrial manufacturing sector in Massachusetts. The funding is part of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) program, which supports hard …

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wehende Fahnen vor dem Europa Parlament in Brüssel

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Politics & Law

France or Any Member State Can’t Ban Meaty Terms in Plant-Based Food Labels, EU Top Court Rules

Burger, sausage, and steak are now legal names for vegan marketing in the old continent. The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that France or any Member State cannot prohibit using “terms traditionally associated with animal products” for plant-based alternatives, provided the ingredients are clearly shown on labels. In a press release published today, the court explains that states must refrain from prohibiting producers from using customary or descriptive names for plant-based foods in the absence of an adopted legal name (a law defining what a sausage or a burger is). According to ProVeg International, adopting legal names would create massive confusion for consumers and the single market because defining these terms depends on cultural and linguistic references. Jasmijn de Boo, Global …

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NotCo Plant-based Chicken Nuggets

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Politics & Law

Chile: New Bill to Define and Label Plant-Based Alternatives as “Simulated Food”

In Chile, a new bill to regulate the food tech industry and establish a statute for fair competition between traditional and plant-based food industries is being considered. The proposed legislation, authored by Representative Harry Jürgensen, aims to protect consumer rights and prevent misleading practices in the food industry. “The proposal establishes a statute for fair competition between animal-origin foods and plant-origin foods when the latter imitates the properties of the former. To this end, it distinguishes between natural and synthetic origin so that all people are clearly aware of the types of foods they are consuming,” says the press release from the Chamber of Deputies. “Simulated food” The bill, which has recently passed through the Agriculture Committee and is now being debated at the Chamber …

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Petition calls for standardised labelling of vegan and vegetarian foods in New Zealand

Image: NZ Vegetarian Society
Charity & Campaigns

Petition Calls for Standardised Labelling of Vegan & Vegetarian Products in New Zealand

The NZ Vegetarian Society (NZVS) and the Vegan Society of Aotearoa have partnered to launch a petition advocating clear and standardised labelling for vegan and vegetarian foods in New Zealand. The organisations are calling on the government to implement legislation to prevent consumer confusion, following an increase in the use of terms such as “plant-based” or “less dairy” for products that may contain animal ingredients. They argue that ambiguous labelling impacts not just vegans and vegetarians but also allergy sufferers and people who avoid certain foods for religious reasons. The petition says that products marked “vegan” must be completely free of animal-derived ingredients, while vegetarian products should not contain meat, seafood, or other ingredients resulting from animal slaughter (such as gelatine or rennet). Additionally, if …

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Valsoia Super Burger

© Valsoia
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Majority of Italians Support Using ‘Meaty’ Terms in Plant-Based Products Labels

A new survey by YouGov on plant-based product labels in Italy, commissioned by the Good Food Institute Europe, reveals that 68% of Italian consumers believe companies should be able to use “meaty” terms freely for plant-based products. At the same time, 69% believe that terms like ‘hamburger’ and ‘milk’ are appropriate for describing plant-based products, and only 21% feel these terms should be restricted because they could confuse consumers. Francesca Gallelli, Public Affairs Consultant at the Good Food Institute Europe, shared, “Our survey confirms that consumers understand terms like plant-based sausage and ham and that the ban on meat-sounding terms does not introduce any necessary protections; on the contrary, it is bound to create confusion, complicating access to products that play a key role in diversifying …

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Let's Plant Meat

© Let's Plant Meat
Politics & Law

Thailand Proposes New Labeling Restrictions for Plant-Based Products

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration has drafted new regulations that could impose labeling restrictions on plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Under the proposed legislation, plant-based companies will still be able to use terms that indicate the shape of the product, such as “mince”, “sausages”, and even “bacon”.  However, they will need to clearly specify that the products are plant-based. The term “meat” will not be allowed, and neither will names for specific types or grades of meat (such as “pork”, “chicken”, or “wagyu”). Using images of farm animals, or any marking that is deemed to imply the product is of animal origin, will also be prohibited. For dairy alternatives, descriptions such as “soy milk” or “almond milk” will be permitted, but terms that are said …

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Heura Fish

Image courtesy of Heura
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Spanish Seafood Producers & Consumer Unions Claim Plant-Based Seafood Labelling is Deceptive

A group of over 20 Spanish seafood companies and consumer unions has accused plant-based seafood producers of misleading consumers through their labelling. The organisations — which include Apromar, Cepesca, Interfish, Conexmar, ConsumES, and more —- have announced their intention to join SAFE Food Advocacy Europe to urge European authorities to place stricter regulations on plant-based products. They say these foods should not be able to imitate fish or shellfish. While the companies claim their objections are mostly centred around the “deception” of consumers, there are clearly other factors at play. Conexmar says the marketing of plant-based seafood “may lead to unfair competition”, while Miguel López Crespo, the vice president of ConsumES, admits that “we are also concerned about the damage that this type of product …

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Hellmann's

© Unilever/Hellmann's
Products & Launches

Hellmann’s Rebrands Vegan Mayo to Appeal to a Wider Consumer Base

Hellmann’s UK has announced it is renaming its vegan mayo to “Plant-Based Mayo” with the aim of appealing to a broader range of consumers. The company said its consumer research had shown that the word “vegan” deters some flexitarians, who feel that the product isn’t intended for them. The term “plant-based” is reportedly seen as more inclusive. The mayo’s recipe has also been altered; it now contains less rapeseed oil, while sunflower oil and xanthan gum have been added. The updated product is currently rolling out at supermarkets in 400ml glass jars and 430ml and 750ml squeezy bottles. Some other brands are also moving away from the word “vegan”. Magnum — which, like Hellmann’s, is owned by Unilever — has previously launched several plant-based ice …

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