EU Bans Plant-Based 'Bacon'
The EU has moved to ban the labeling of plant-based products as 'bacon', though veggie 'burgers' will still be allowed under their current names. The decision is part of ongoing debates about plant-based food labeling and consumer clarity. Scientists also successfully grew chickpeas in simulated lunar soil, with the plants producing seeds using fungi and compost.
The recent EU decision will prohibit 31 meat-related terms for plant-based and cultivated meat products, including "steak," "chicken," "ham," and "bacon". However, common names like "burger," "sausage," and "nuggets" have been spared and can continue to be used. The legislation will also apply to the nascent lab-grown meat industry, which does not yet have products available in the EU market. This ruling marks a victory for European livestock farmer associations, who have long argued that using traditional meat terminology for plant-based alternatives is misleading to consumers and constitutes unfair competition. The proposal was championed by French lawmaker Céline Imart of the center-right EPP party as part of a larger package of measures to protect farmers. This is not the first time the EU has regulated plant-based product names. In a landmark 2017 case known as the "TofuTown" ruling, the European Court of Justice banned the use of dairy-related terms like "milk," "butter," and "cheese" for non-dairy products. A similar proposal to ban "meaty" names was narrowly defeated in the European Parliament in 2020. Consumer organizations and the plant-based food industry have criticized the new ban, arguing it creates unnecessary barriers and that consumers are not actually confused. A 2020 survey by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) found that a majority of consumers were not concerned about the naming of veggie products as long as they were clearly labeled. Despite opposition from companies like Beyond Meat, Quorn, and The Vegetarian Butcher, the ban is moving forward. Companies will be given a three-year transition period to sell existing stock and update their packaging to comply with the new regulations. The final text will be confirmed before moving to a vote with ministers from all 27 member states.
