The European Parliament has rejected a proposal that would have placed severe restrictions on the packaging and marketing of plant-based dairy analogue products.
Such products are already forbidden to use words like “milk,” “yogurt” or “butter.” Amendment 171 would have prohibited them from almost any evocation of dairy, even using terms such as “creamy” or “buttery” or pictures of milk swirling in a cup of coffee. Even information like “does not contain milk,” to inform allergy sufferers, would be illegal.
The measure was proposed last year by a committee of the European Parliament, the governing body of the European Union. It drew ardent objections from vegans and environmental groups, including teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The French member of the European Parliament who proposed the measure last year withdrew it himself.
“Finally, this nonsensical plan is off the table,” said Elena Walden, policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe. “While the existing restrictions on everyday language like ‘soy milk’ remain, it is reassuring that European leaders have listened to consumers.”
