Distinguishing Plant-Based veggie burger patties from the meat-based ones was quite easy twenty years ago. Veggie or plant-based patties were for the most part situated in a designated area, usually in a frozen food section of the store. We did not have that many brands of meatless burger patties back then.
The story is a bit different today. New plant-based edible products that mimic meat are being introduced almost monthly. Although most of those new burger patties are labeled as “meatless” or “plant-based” and most consumers are aware of the meaning of the wording on the labels, the meat industry is not happy with the way things are being handled or rather, labeled. In this audio report by NPR, you can audit an in depth summary about this issue.
A few states already have passed laws, which prohibit plant-based meat producers to label their products with names containing words “meat”, “chicken”, “beef” and so on. According to Yahoo Finance, Senator Deb Fischer recently introduced the “Real MEAT Act” which would require plant-based pseudo meat manufacturers to adhere to strict labeling practices. Various lobbies are involved in these disputes and several lawsuits ensued last year after these controversial laws were introduced. In all this “beef with fake beef” Mississippi already reversed the ban after plant-based businesses sued the state and won the suit based on First Amendment rights.
Disputes over the labeling of plant-based pseudo meat products also prompted the formation of a Plant-Based Food Association that would clear any future confusion about the labeling of pseudo meat products. Plant Based Foods Association states on its website the following “As consumers increasingly seeking out plant-based meat options, the Plant-Based Foods Association is leading the way by promoting a labeling standard that suggests clear labeling terms that consumers understand,” said Michele Simon, PBFA’s executive director.”
Since we are talking about labeling, I would like to point out one more thing when it comes to plant-based patty monikers. Most burger patty manufacturers, except a few plant-based ones, will label their products as “burgers” and not “patties.” That is fine in most cases because consumers associate burgers with patties and vice versa. Trader Joe’s, for example, named their plant-based patties “Protein Patties” which is fine since the packaging contains only burger patties and not buns, lettuce, veggies and so on.
Takeaway
What will future bring in terms of plant-based vs real meat labeling disputes? It remains to be seen. But at the time of writing this article, the State of Mississippi ended the ban on labeling plant-based patties with names that contain some animal or meat-related terminology. With the newly established naming rules and regulations that are easy to follow, the meat industry should be less worried about the plant-based product names having a misleading effect on the consumers.