Thailand FDA Proposes Ban on Plant-Based Foods Using Meat And Dairy Labeling

Thailand's FDA is proposing bans on plant-based foods using meat and dairy-related labeling, causing concern for plant-based food manufacturers in the country. Under the proposed regulations, plant-based products can use terms like "patties" or "mince," but not terms that could cause confusion, such as "plant-based chicken burger." The FDA is conducting studies on alternative proteins to inform the development of these regulations.

Unlike the EU, Thailand would still allow plant milk to use the term "milk" in its labeling, but terms like "whole" or "skimmed" would be banned. Additionally, plant-based food products could not use images of animals on their packaging. The proposed legislation has been influenced by lobbying from the meat and dairy industry, similar to labeling bans in other countries.