South Africa Rules That Vegan Meat Cannot Be Seized From Supermarket Shelves

The Johannesburg High Court has overturned a plan by the South African government to remove all plant-based meat alternatives from supermarket shelves. A ban on the use of “meat” words for plant-based alternatives had meant that non-compliant products were set to be seized by South Africa’s Food Safety Agency in 2022. Following a successful intervention by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, the High Court granted an order to stop the seizure while a review of the ban took place.

Now, the review has concluded with the Court ruling in favor of plant-based proteins. Advocates for plant-based diets are celebrating the decision, as plant-based burgers, nuggets, sausages, and other products can now remain on sale in South Africa. This victory for the plant-based meat industry follows similar failed attempts in other countries, highlighting the undeniable benefits of supporting the growth of plant-based alternatives for environmental and health reasons.