Download
Where's the beef? Labeling blow for French protein-based food makers
CGTN

Translating...

Content is automatically generated by Microsoft Azure Translator Text API. CGTN is not responsible for any of the translations.

French butchers have welcomed the move. /Ameer Alhalbi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
French butchers have welcomed the move. /Ameer Alhalbi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

French butchers have welcomed the move. /Ameer Alhalbi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

France has unveiled revised proposals banning the use of meat names like 'steak' and 'spare ribs' for plant-based food made in the country as it seeks to avoid "misleading claims" of some meat alternatives.

The first country in the European Union to attempt to impose such a restriction, France had already tried to pass such a measure in June last year but it was suspended by the country's highest administrative court a month later, which argued that it was too vague and the timing too short.

The global plant-based protein market has seen a sharp rise in recent years, mainly driven by increasing demand for environment-friendly and healthy food. The industry often uses references to meat products, fueling anger among livestock farmers and meat processors in France, the EU's biggest agricultural producer.

READ MORE

From the frontline: The dual threat facing Nikopol's scared populace

UK criminals to not have 'coward's way out' at sentencing

What Chinese treasures are in the British Museum?

The new draft decree, which only applies to products made and sold in France, bans a list of 21 meat names to describe protein-based products, including 'steak', 'escalope', 'spare ribs', 'ham' or 'butcher'.

However, over 120 meat-associated names such as 'cooked ham', 'poultry', 'sausage' or 'bacon' will still be authorised provided that the products do not exceed a certain amount of plant proteins, with percentages ranging between 0.5 percent and 6 percent.

"This new draft decree reflects our desire to put an end to misleading claims ... by using names relating to meat products for foodstuffs that do not contain them," French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau said in a statement.

"It is an issue of transparency and loyalty which meets a legitimate expectation of consumers and producers," he added.

The word 'burger', used by many brands to attract consumers, is not included on the lists.

The decree will come into force three months after publication to give operators time to adapt their labelling. It also leaves open the possibility for manufacturers to sell all product stocks labelled before its entry into force, at the latest one year after publication.

Where's the beef? Labeling blow for French protein-based food makers

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday

Source(s): Reuters

MORE FROM CGTN

UK hands 25-year jail term to Mediterranean small-boat smuggler
{"type":2,"value":"Louise Greenwood","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

17:16, 20-May-2025

UK pauses Israeli free trade talks as EU threatens to end agreement
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

16:40, 20-May-2025

Perrier in hot water over cover-up scandal that implicates government
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

12:25, 20-May-2025

EXPLAINER What's in the EU-UK deal... and what was left out?
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Europe

12:19, 20-May-2025

TOP NEWS

President Xi stresses firm confidence in high-quality development
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Politics

09:30, 20-May-2025

Chinese FM meets chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Politics

14:24, 20-May-2025

China pushes urban renewal to drive high-quality growth
{"type":2,"value":"CGTN","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

Economy

06:36, 20-May-2025

Search Trends