EU moves to ban vegetarian snacks with meat-flavoured names, UK may follow
The European Union is preparing rules that would prohibit plant-based products from using meat-sounding names, and the UK could adopt similar measures soon.
European officials are working on new rules that would bar plant-based products from carrying names that suggest they contain meat, citing consumer confusion. The initiative targets items like Walkers' Smoky Bacon crisps, Roast Chicken crisps, and various chicken-flavoured instant noodles, which actually rely on soy, yeast extracts and other flavour enhancers. Food manufacturers, including Batchelors and Bisto, have warned the measures could unintentionally sweep many vegetarian snacks into the regulatory net.
Meanwhile, speculation suggests that Andy Burnham may bring the United Kingdom into line with the EU's labeling standards within weeks. If adopted, the changes would require a relabeling of numerous well-known British snack and convenience foods.
Why it matters
Consumers could see many familiar snack names changed, affecting buying habits and food-industry labeling practices.
In this story
