A coalition of major food companies and organizations has issued an open letter to German Members of the European Parliament, expressing concern over proposed restrictions on the terminology used to describe plant-based meat alternatives. The letter, reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), includes signatories from retailers Aldi and Lidl, fast-food chain Burger King and plant-based meat producer Beyond Meat, among others.
The proposed regulations, currently under debate within the European Parliament, would reportedly restrict the use of terms like “sausage” “cutlet” and “burger” exclusively to products derived from animals. The signatories argue that such a ban would contradict the goal of a resilient and diversified food supply chain, supported by robust agricultural operations.
Furthermore, they contend that limiting terminology would hinder consumer choice and make it significantly more challenging for companies to market their products, particularly for “flexitarians” – consumers actively seeking plant-based alternatives. The letter urges the German MEPs to reject the proposed limitations.
The German Ministry of Agriculture, under Alois Rainer (CSU), responded to the FAS’s inquiry, emphasizing the importance of consumer autonomy in food choices and stressing the need for transparency and information regarding available products. While acknowledging the value of clear differentiation between traditional animal products and plant-based alternatives, the Ministry underscored the principle of consumer self-determination.
The crucial vote in the European Parliament is scheduled for October 7th. The proposed restrictions reportedly extend beyond terms like “cutlet” and “burger” and could potentially prohibit the use of animal descriptors such as “chicken” or “beef”.