European Court Strikes Down Bans On Meat Names For Vegan Food

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against France's attempt to ban the use of "meaty" terms on plant-based products, extending the ruling to all EU member states. The judge stated that generic meat-based terms such as sausage, steak, or burger do not have strict legal definitions and can therefore be used to describe vegan food. This decision came after organizations and companies, including Beyond Meat, challenged the French government's attempt to introduce a ban.

Opponents of the ban argued that consumers could be misled by the use of meaty names on plant-based products, but the ECJ stated that EU law already provides sufficient protection against misleading labels. The ruling also aims to protect the harmonization of the EU single market, ensuring that plant-based products can be sold across borders without restriction. Global CEO of ProVeg International, Jasmijn de Boo, welcomed the clarity provided by the ECJ's judgment and urged the French court to dismiss the ban on "meaty" names for plant-based food.