May 12, 2025|
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|7 months agoSwiss Court Restricts Plant-Based Food Labeling
Switzerland's Federal Court has ruled against using animal-related terms for vegan products, impacting food manufacturers and marking a significant precedent in food labeling regulations.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Switzerland's Federal Court has prohibited the use of animal-related names for vegan and vegetarian products.
- The court case involved an appeal by the federal government against the Zurich-based producer, Planted Foods.
- Labels such as 'vegan pork' or 'plant-based chicken' are now banned.
- Terms describing preparation methods or form, like 'steak', 'sausage', 'patty', or 'minced', are still permitted.
- The court's decision aligns Switzerland with EU legislation and case law regarding food labeling.
They Said
"A majority of the judges argued that food products not made from animal flesh should not bear the name of an animal species."
"The underlying principle is simple, if technical: a plant-based patty cannot be labelled a 'beef steak'."