Regulations for labelling of 'fake' meat cause a stir

The Department of Agriculture has called on all stakeholders to welcome the sale of meat analogue (alternative protein) products in South Africa.

- Annelie Coleman

The department said in a statement that any product labelled as a 'meat replacer', 'meat substitute', 'meat alternative', 'plant-based protein', or any similar terminology, must contain a minimum of 9% protein.

This stipulation applied specifically to claims made on the primary packaging display, ensuring that products marketed as meat substitutes meet consumer expectations for nutritional content.

A meat analogue could be defined as products that mimics its functionality, bearing similar appearance, texture, and sensory attributes to meat, according to sciencedirect.com.