Senate inquiry recommends clarity in plant protein labelling

A Senate inquiry into the use of terms like meat, chicken and beef on plant-based protein products has concluded and recommendations have been made to ensure clarity on the packaging and labelling of these products.

The inquiry came to the conclusion that a higher level of clarity was required for the labelling and packaging of products so that animal-protein terminology and imagery is not applied to plant-based proteins. It cites potential issues of clarity for consumers as well as a push by producers of animal proteins as reasons for recommending the development of a mandatory regulatory framework for the labelling of plant-based protein products.

The inquiry has made nine recommendations of changes to be made. It identifies regulatory areas that it wants Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to review.

After the review, it recommends that FSANZ develops guidelines to inform labelling and marketing practices for manufacturers of plant-based protein products. It also recommends that FSANZ initiates consultations with stakeholders about amending the FSANZ Code to include:

• a definition of plant-based protein products; and
• minimum compositional requirements for plant-based protein products.

The inquiry states that it wants to ensure a high degree of clarity to ensure that the protein products, either meat or plant-based ones, are sufficiently labelled and ready to be exported to support Australia’s agricultural industries.

Seafood Industry Australia, the Red Meat Advisory Council and Australian Dairy Industry Council were all highly receptive of the inquiry’s findings, commended the move towards alteration of labelling regulations and endorsed the recommendations put forward by the inquiry.

“The inquiry’s recommendations are vital for the future of animal-based protein industries, including seafood to protect our name, definitions, brands, integrity systems and most importantly, our transparency with consumers,” said Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta.

“The report’s recommended review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Code and exemption of named meat, seafood and dairy ‘categories’ — meaning terms like soy milk should not be permitted — is the first step necessary to address those misconceptions,” said Australian Dairy Industry Council Chair Rick Gladigau.

“The recommendations handed down in today’s report vindicate industry’s long held view that minimum regulated standards are required to prohibit plant protein product manufacturers from referencing traditional animal proteins like ‘beef’, ‘lamb’ and ‘goat’, and using livestock images on plant protein packaging or marketing materials,” said Red Meat Advisory Council Independent Chair John McKillop when the report was released.

Conversely, the Alternative Proteins Council expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the inquiry, arguing that it was taking a heavy-handed approach and that the recommendations could have a negative impact on the burgeoning plant-based proteins industry. It cited the Australian Greens’ dissenting report that rejected the recommendations and urged policymakers to consider a voluntary framework in place of a mandatory one.

The Senate inquiry report, titled ‘Don’t mince words: definitions of meat and other animal products’, was released on 24 February and is available here.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Moving Moment