Vegetarian and vegan sausage alternatives are now piling up in supermarkets. But that should soon be over: Federal Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt calls for a ban on the popular meat imitations – they unsettle consumers and are misleading.
Ban on imitation meat
Terms such as “vegan currywurst” and “vegetarian schnitzel” are increasingly found on animal-free meat substitutes. However, Federal Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt (CSU) wants to ban such designations in the future because they are misleading and unsettle consumers.
“I am working to ensure that they are banned in the interests of clear consumer labeling. I do not want us to pretend that these pseudo-meat dishes are meat. I am sure that in the future the manufacturers will choose their own names for their herbal products will be superior,” Schmidt explained to the Bild newspaper.
Clear labeling required
The CSU politician had previously spoken out in favor of clear labeling of the ingredients in the increasingly popular veggie products – true to the motto: What’s on the label must also be inside. Anyone who consciously eats a vegetarian or vegan diet should be able to reliably choose from a wide range of foods, Schmidt said in October.
