Stop to 'meat sounding': goodbye to plant-based meat, save the 'veggie burgers'

Operation clarity on meat and alternative protein foods. An agreement between the Council and the EU Parliament on "meat sounding", that is, the use of terms traditionally associated with meat for plant-based products, specifies that "steak," "fillet," or "liver" must be reserved for products containing meat. The labels "burger," "sausage," and "nuggets" remain permitted even for veggie productions with alternative proteins to meat.

Beef, veal, pork, poultry, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, lamb, mutton, sheep, goat, thigh, fillet, sirloin, flank, loin, steak, ribs, shoulder, shank, chop, wing, breast, liver, thigh, breast, ribeye, T-bone, rump, and bacon are the 31 terms that cannot be used for products that do not contain meat, including those obtained from cellular cultures.

The agreement must be confirmed by both EU institutions before it comes into effect. Producers will be given three years to comply with the new regulations. For the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Francesco Lollobrigida, the EU has made a "significant decision to bring things back to normal". "It is an important step - comments Serafino Cremonini, president of Assocarni - for clarity towards consumers and for the protection of the livestock supply chain". Praise also comes from Coldiretti, which claims its contribution "for the health of citizens and for clarity about what reaches the tables". Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Senate and senator of the League, Gian Marco Centinaio, laments the "little courage" at the community level. Furthermore, observes the former Minister of Agriculture, "if I talk about sausage, I wouldn't expect to find soy and tofu in it. This way, it only risks generating even more confusion among consumers." More satisfied is the Forza Italia MEP Flavio Tosi (PPE) for "an important compromise that marks an unprecedented step forward in defending our livestock sector".

Italian plant-based food companies are instead looking with concern at the agreement reached in trilogue and remind that the retail market for plant-based products in Italy has already reached 639 million euros in 2024, with a growth of 7.6% compared to the previous year.

Over 15 million Italian families, accounting for about 59% of households, have purchased at least one plant-based product over the course of the year.

Massimo Santinelli, CEO of Biolab based in Gorizia, laments "a missed opportunity for the Italian food industry": "For us industry operators, it is a matter of competitiveness and future".