Vegan Schnitzel remains a vegan schnitzel

"Vegan schnitzel" remains "vegan schnitzel": defeat for Federal Minister Schmidt
The German Food Book Commission (DLMBK) has launched an association hearing on the draft of a guideline for vegetarian and vegan products. The draft states that meat alternatives on product packaging may continue to be referred to as "vegan escalope" and "vegetarian bratwurst". The VEBU had campaigned for consumer-friendly designations and participated in the work of the DLMBK. However, questions remain unanswered.

"Schnitzel", "Bratwurst" and "Meatball": these and similar terms can still be used for vegetarian-vegan meat alternatives. The competent expert committee of the German Food Book Commission * (DLMBK) has launched the association hearing on the draft of a general guideline for the naming of vegetarian and vegan foods. The VEBU had worked within the expert committee for the admissibility of "meat terms".

Vegetarian and vegan foods are growing in popularity. (Image: PhotoSG / fotolia.com)

Till Strecker, Head of VEBU Policy, explains: "The decision of the DLMBK is a success for the VEBU and our commitment to the interests of consumers. Minister of Food Schmidt failed with his suggestion to ban 'meat concepts' in principle. The decision for the admissibility of terms such as 'vegan schnitzel' and 'vegetarian bratwurst' is in the interest of all those who want to buy informative and attractive labeled vegetarian vegan products. Labeling vegan and vegetarian alternative products in terms that are also used for food with animal ingredients makes sense, as it allows us to see many of the characteristics of a product at a glance. "

Meat terms are allowed
The demands of Federal Minister of Food Christian Schmidt, the German Farmers Association (DBV) and the German Butcher Association (DFV), who had spoken out for a general ban on "meat names", the DLMBK does not come. General terms such as "sausage" and "meatball" can continue to be used without restriction in the opinion of the DLMBK.

Criticism of concrete design
Other terms that describe, for example, cuts of meat (eg "fillet" or "ham") or references to animal species (eg "chicken" or "beef") are not provided. According to the DLMBK, special terms such as "salami" should only be permitted via linguistic detours such as "salami-style vegan tofu sausage". "The underlying logic is unrecognizable. The arbitrary distinction between different product categories with regard to the permissible designation and complicated linguistic constructs, without the need for action: this can not be understood by any consumer and this does not correspond to the consumer's interest, "says Strecker. "The DLMBK intervenes here formally, without this being indicated on the basis of the facts. There are no problems in practice with the naming of meat alternatives that a guiding principle would have to meet. "

Voting process is pending
Before the guideline finally finds its way into the food book, it is put up for discussion by associations in a voting process. This process has now begun. The VEBU will submit a detailed statement addressing the inconsistencies in the draft Guidelines.