The government’s decree is a response to a long-standing complaint by the meat industry that terms like ‘vegetarian ham’ or ‘vegan sausage’ were confusing for consumers.

The French government issued a decree on Tuesday, February 27, banning the term “steak” on the label of vegetarian products, saying it was reserved for meat alone. Other terms that can no longer be used for meat-free products include “escalope,” “ham,” “filet” and “prime rib,” according to the decree.

The ruling is a response to a long-standing complaint by the meat industry that terms like “vegetarian ham” or “vegan sausage” were confusing for consumers. It is based on a 2020 law whose application was temporarily suspended by the State Council in June 2022 after a complaint from Proteines France, a consortium of French companies selling plant-based food.

  • where_am_i
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    9 months ago

    reading comprehension is a basic requirement for a functioning society. We can’t design everything around “some old person might get confused by this”.

    • andrewta@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      So because it’s not a problem for you we shouldn’t try to find a better way.

      Good luck with that.

      • where_am_i
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        9 months ago

        not allowing to write on a product “this like a steak but vegan” is not a better way. It’s specifically gatekeeping substitutes and slowing down their adoption.