World News for Students of English

14-10-2024 15:00

The European Court of Justice has ruled that plant-based manufacturers can continue using meat-related names, such as “vegetarian burger” or “vegan steak.”

This decision promotes consumer transparency but raises concerns about potential market fragmentation across Europe.

The ruling has met mixed reactions from consumers. While some argue that plant-based products should have different names since they are not meat, others find familiar terms useful for recipes. In France, however, strict laws prevent plant-based items from using terms like “steak” or “ham,” creating uncertainty for producers.

While the meat industry is not expected to be negatively affected, industry experts warn that different regulations in each country may lead to confusion. A survey shows that around 70% of consumers support using traditional meat names for plant-based items if the products are marked as vegetarian or vegan.

Difficult words: consumer transparency (being open and honest to consumers in all aspects of the business), market fragmentation (dividing a marketplace into many small markets).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.