Industry players welcome updated naming rules for plant-based meat analogue products

THE Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DAL-RRD) has updated labelling regulations for plant-based meat analogue products - a move welcomed by LIVEKINDLY Collective Africa (LKCA) and Fry Family Foods.

- PHILIPPA LARKIN

The regulations do not allow the use of meat names such as beef, chicken, pork in the products but allow the use of names such as burger, sausage, nugget, hot dog.

The name for a meat analogue needs to be preceded by a descriptive name such as “plant-based”, “fungi-based”, “mushroom-based’, “vegan’, “veggie” or “vegetarian” and/or a similar descriptive name or term that will assist or enable the consumer to determine the true nature and composition of the meat analogue, according to the regulations.

The updated regulations are the result of a collaborative and consultative process that unfolded over many months.

When the DALRRD first announced the banning of meat names in 2022, they included all names like burger, sausage for example. But due to industry push back the Department opened the door to feedback in October 2024.

Since DALRRD first opened the conversation in October 2024, LKCA said it has been actively engaged in providing input and recommendations.