Europe restricts the use of meat terms on plant-based products

The European Union will prohibit calling plant-based foods “steak” or “bacon”. More than 30 terms will be reserved solely for products containing meat. The measure seeks to avoid confusion in labelling and affects supermarkets and restaurants.

Those buying plant-based alternatives in Barcelona supermarkets will soon notice an important change in labelling. The European Union has decided to limit the use of words such as “steak”, “ribeye” or “bacon” exclusively to products containing meat. This measure will affect more than 30 terms commonly used in the range of foods of plant origin.

The new regulation, promoted by the European Commission, seeks to prevent consumers from associating plant-based or cell-cultivated products with traditional meat foods. From its entry into force, only products made with meat may bear these terms in their names, forcing manufacturers and restaurants to change names and menus.

The change will particularly affect the offering of supermarkets and food-service establishments that have backed plant-based alternatives, increasingly present in the city. EU officials consider this distinction necessary to ensure clear information and avoid misunderstandings in everyday shopping.

In Barcelona, where the trend towards a more sustainable, plant-based diet has grown in recent years, the measure could generate debate among consumers and producers. Adaptation will pose a challenge for brands that have built their identity around these names, now reserved solely for meat products.

The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, is responsible for proposing and implementing EU legislation. Its responsibilities include consumer protection and regulation of the single market. In recent years, it has promoted several regulations to clarify food labelling and ensure transparency in the information received by citizens of member countries.