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France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

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Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#11

Post by coffeefirst »

markstos wrote: post #10

The US meat and dairy industry have asked for similar bans as well. The problem is, consumers aren't actually confused. Different names will used if need be and consumers will continue the trend of reducing their meat consumption for environmental, health, or ethical reasons.

Honestly I think giving them new names would increase popularity. It lets the food stand on its own without the expectation of being an imitation.

Falafel, for example, is amazing and didn't need to be called "Chickpea Burgers" for people to like it.

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#12

Post by markstos »

coffeefirst wrote: post #11
markstos wrote: post #10

The US meat and dairy industry have asked for similar bans as well. The problem is, consumers aren't actually confused. Different names will used if need be and consumers will continue the trend of reducing their meat consumption for environmental, health, or ethical reasons.

Honestly I think giving them new names would increase popularity. It lets the food stand on its own without the expectation of being an imitation. Falafel, for example, is amazing and didn't need to be called "Chickpea Burgers" for people to like it.

The market wants both. Someone just transitioning from may be explicitly looking for a plant-based version of what they've been eating.

Someone raised vegetarian or who hasn't eaten meat in a long time may repulsed by the thought of eating meat has no interest in names that remind them of eating animals.

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#13

Post by tpmx »

It's getting ridiculous here in Sweden. Actual product names (they tend to use English, sometimes with intentional misspellings to get around regulations, I assume):

"Vegan Grated Chse"

(https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/731024...)

"Roast Beaf - Plant-based cold cut"

(https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/735003...)

"Parveggio - grated"

(https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/529287...)

"Greek style"

(https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/529287...)

If I were vegan, I'd feel offended.

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#15

Post by aetherson »

coffeefirst wrote: post #11
markstos wrote: post #10

The US meat and dairy industry have asked for similar bans as well. The problem is, consumers aren't actually confused. Different names will used if need be and consumers will continue the trend of reducing their meat consumption for environmental, health, or ethical reasons.

Honestly I think giving them new names would increase popularity. It lets the food stand on its own without the expectation of being an imitation. Falafel, for example, is amazing and didn't need to be called "Chickpea Burgers" for people to like it.

It's nice to know what it's supposed to taste like, if it is intended to be as close as possible to an actual meat product.

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#16

Post by gumby »

markstos wrote: post #10

The US meat and dairy industry have asked for similar bans as well. The problem is, consumers aren't actually confused. Different names will used if need be and consumers will continue the trend of reducing their meat consumption for environmental, health, or ethical reasons.

> The problem is, consumers aren't actually confused.

I don't know -- seems like a lot of people don't think of sheep when they see the word "fleece". Why should it be any different with food?

For that matter I know what chicken tastes like, but I don't get that product when I go to the grocery and get something labeled "chicken".

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#17

Post by wolfgang42 »

mmastrac wrote: post #5

Not being able to use Sausage is ridiculous. It's a tube of something. It doesn't need to be meat. You already need a qualifier to understand what it's made from.

Since this is a law in France, trying to apply English definitions is probably unhelpful. Here’s my translation of the definition[1] from Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, the official French dictionary:

> SAUCISSE (n) Intestine filled with chopped meats, most commonly pork, seasoned in various ways, which is often eaten hot.

This does seem to fairly definitely exclude vegetarian options.

[1] https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/article/A9S0563

Re: France bans veggie ′steaks,′ ′sausages′ to describe vegetarian products

#18

Post by shireboy »

tpmx wrote: post #13

It's getting ridiculous here in Sweden. Actual product names (they tend to use English, sometimes with intentional misspellings to get around regulations, I assume): "Vegan Grated Ch se" ( https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/731024... ) "Roast Beaf - Plant-based cold cut" ( https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_large_2x_v1,f_auto/735003... ) "Parveggio - grated" ( https://assets.icanet.se/t_product_lar…

Was thinking this is going to lead to some cringey product names. "veak" and "vausage" for the uncreative and it goes downhill from there. Our family calls it "feat" for "fake meat"
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