Planted in front of the Federal Court: Meat substitute products are deceived by customers
Federal Court Knallhart: Vegi company is deceptive of consumers
Planted sells their meat alternatives as « vegan pig » and « Güggeli ». According to the federal court, this is inadmissible. What consequences the verdict has-and why the meat dispute continues in politics.
In the supermarket you are spoiled for choice: between conventional chickens and vegan “poult”, which consists of herbal proteins. The meat substance has long been a thorn in the side that meat replacement products are marketed by referring to animal names. On Friday, the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne declared the practice inadmissible.
What exactly is it about?
The case treated by the Federal Supreme Court goes back to 2021. The food control of the canton of Zurich contested various meat substitute products from Planted, which refer to animal species. The inspectors asked the start-up to no longer use labels such as « Güggeli », « Veganes Pig » or « Planted.chicken ». Planted defended itself against this. While the company flashed at the Zürcher Health Directorate, the cantonal administrative court granted it law. At that moment, this switched on the Swiss Federal Department of the Interior and pulled the case before the Federal Supreme Court. It sees consumers deceived by the Planted products.
How does the Federal Supreme Court argue?
The five -member body disagreed at the public hearing. Federal judge Julia Hänni (center) wanted to reject the complaint. The entire appearance of a packaging must be taken into account, not just a single printed word like « planted.chicken ». Thanks to various information – such as the performance of the ingredients (pea proteins) and the brand name (Planted) – be it for the « average consumer » that the reprimanded products are not meat.
The rest of the committee saw it differently. The counter -application from Federal judge Yves Donzallaz (independent, formerly SVP) prevailed. He argued on a more fundamental level: Since the term « chicken » in European and Swiss law was defined as a poultry and thus as meat, purely vegetable products that are sold as chicken were a deception of consumers. This applies even in the event of an additional point of view of herbal origin. Because in accordance with the federal law, all information on food must correspond to the facts. The judgment on the acceptance of the complaint fell with a 4: 1 majority.
What are the consequences of the decision?
With the judgment it is clear that meat substitute products must not be called the name of an animal species – be it « chicken », « pig » or « chicken ». This applies to all manufacturers. The start-up Planted based in Kampthal ZH in the specific must work out new names and packaging for the affected products. That is « not a drama, » says company co-founder Judith Wemmer. In a first reaction she speaks of « a political and not a factual decision ». The reprimanded packaging of 2021 have already been revised. Only a few percent of the range are affected by a change, says Wemmer. « It is positive for us that we can continue to use terms such as » steak « , » fillet « or » burgers’. «
What is allowed for vegi products?
The Federal Supreme Court confirmed the previous interpretation practice of the authorities, which the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary beings captured in 2021 in an information letter. Accordingly, names for specific meat products such as salami, ham or Wienerli are not allowed for vegetarian alternatives.
More general terms – even if they are traditionally associated with meat – may be used. This affects the sausage, the steak, sliced meat and the hamburgers. These terms are not legally defined-not even at EU level. Word players like “Velami” are also allowed, provided that the spelling differs sufficiently from the original (salami).
Has the meat replacement dispute now ended?
No. The question of what may be called meat has long been concerned with politics. Last December, the Valais cantonal parliament, entitled « A steak is a steak, is a steak! » assumed. The advance from bourgeois circles does not require a ban on vegan or vegetarian food that bears the name of meat products. However, he wants to prohibit advertising for said products. The Valais government must now work out a change in the law.
An equal motion was submitted in the Vaud at the beginning of this year. Discussions between meat lovers and lovers of vegan “meat” will continue to be taken care of in the future.
