Meat+Poultry - June 2018 - 14

WA S H I N G T O N

Focusing on 'fake meat'
Lawmakers in France approved a
measure that would ban the use of
"meat terms" to describe plant-based
facsimiles of meats.
The regulation means that names
associated with products of animal
origin cannot be used to market food
products containing "a significant
proportion" of plant-based materials.
Allowing plant-based foods to be
marketed with meat-related terms such
as filet, bacon or sausage, according
to the bill, imposes on the consumer
a "...principle of equivalence between
a pure pork sausage and a vegetarian
'sausage substitute.'"
French lawmakers added the
legislation as an amendment to an
agriculture bill and would apply to
French producers of meat alternatives.
Member of Parliament Jean-Baptiste
Moreau introduced the measure in
mid-April. Moreau tweeted in response
to the approval of the legislation the
importance of fighting "false allegations"
about meat and that terms such as
"cheese" or "steak" will be reserved for
products of animal origin.
Meat industry stakeholders in the
United States have launched a similar
initiative aimed at labeling plant-based
facsimiles of meat. In early April, the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
(NCBA) released its "Principles for

Regulating Fake Meat" in response to
The meat industry is watching
products such as the Beyond Burger and closely the rapid-fire growth of - and
Impossible Foods' Impossible Burger.
investment dollars supporting - plant"It is critical that the federal
based meat alternatives such as the
government step up to the plate and
Impossible Burger and Beyond Foods'
enforce fair and accurate labeling for
Beyond Meat products which blur the
fake meat," Kevin Kester, president of
lines between plant and animal proteins.
NCBA said at the time. "As long
El Segundo, California-based
as we have a level playing
Beyond Meat claims the
field, our product will
company's Beyond Burger
The meat industry
continue to be a leading
looks, cooks and tastes
is watching
protein choice for families
like hamburger. The
closely the rapidin the United States and
company also produces
fire growth of
plant-based meat
around the world."
plant-based alternatives
alternatives.
In February, the US
to meatballs, chicken
Cattlemen's Association
strips and tenders, beef
(USCA) petitioned the Food
crumbles and burger patties
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
that are sold in the meat case alongside
of the US Dept. of Agriculture to
traditional animal proteins.
implement labeling requirements that
Foodservice demand has driven
would exclude products not derived
growth of the Impossible Burger, the
from animals from the definition
product of Impossible Foods Inc.,
of "beef" and "meat," and limit the
which has a stated mission to replace
broader definition of "meat" to
animals as a food source by 2035.
animal flesh or tissues harvested in a
The Impossible Burger is made with
traditional manner.
plant-based ingredients, including soy
The issue of plant-based
leghemoglobin, a protein that carries
alternatives being marketed under
the iron-containing molecule heme,
terms used to describe meat also
which occurs naturally in animals and
has caught the attention of Missouri
plants. Soy leghemoglobin delivers
lawmakers. HB 2607, sponsored by
a meaty flavor without cholesterol,
State Rep. Jeff Knight, would prohibit
hormones or antibiotics. Other
misrepresenting a product as meat that
ingredients in the Impossible Burger
is not derived from livestock or poultry. are water, wheat protein, coconut oil
Sen. Sandy Crawford introduced an
and potato protein along with natural
identical bill (SB 977) in the Missouri
flavors and micronutrients.
state senate.
E R I C A S H A FFE R | e s h a f f e r @s o s l a n d.c o m

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MEAT+ POULTRY | 06.18 | www.meatpoultry.com

Gary Blakeley/Shutterstock.com

"As long as we have a level playing field, our
product will continue to be a leading protein
choice for families in the United States and
around the world."
- KEVIN KESTER
http://www.meatpoultry.com
Meat+Poultry - June 2018

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