You can have a plant-based steak or filet in Switzerland, but it can’t be made of “plant-based beef” or “vegan chicken,” the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
The ruling overturned a lower court ruling that that lifted a decision by the consumer protection agency that plant-based products should not use animal names.
The Federal Court agreed, saying “The term ‘chicken’ refers to poultry, that is, an animal,” and that under Swiss law “all information about food products must be in keeping with reality… a plant-based product which refers to the term ‘chicken’ and does not contain meat is a deception.”
The court said that not only the products but advertising for them must be “designed in such a way to allow the consumer to recognize the type of food and differentiate it from products with which it could be confused.” It did not ban the use of terms such as ‘filet’ or ‘steak.’
The case involved a company called Planted Foods, which accused the court of being “driven by politics and emotions” and was at odds with Swiss government policies promoting more plant-based foods. She argued that studies have shown consumers can tell the difference.
The company has vigorously promoted its products, including with publicity around its making, in 2021, the world’s longest schnitzel, a 119-metre long breaded cutlet made of pea protein.
