France has banned calling plant-based meat products steaks

The French government published decree, according to which manufacturers and sellers of plant-based meat substitutes are prohibited from labeling their products as fillets, steaks, entrecotes, escalopes, legs, breasts, etc. There are 21 items in the list. The authorities explain their decision by saying that the name of products that do not contain natural meat should not mislead consumers with names that are associated with natural meat products. The decree also contains the maximum permissible content of vegetable protein substitutes in various products. So, for example, if a product is called bacon, then the vegetable protein content in it cannot exceed 0.5%, chorizo ​​- 1%, sausages – 3%, schnitzel – 3.5%, etc.

The decree comes into force three months after publication to give manufacturers and sellers time to prepare to change the names of their products. Then, for the next nine months, manufacturers and sellers will not be subject to fines for selling products under the same names. If, after this period, that is, a year after the publication of the decree, changes are not made to the names, manufacturers and sellers will be subject to administrative fines – up to €1.5 thousand for individuals and up to €7.5 thousand for legal entities .

Evgeny Khvostik