Ministry’s proposal to change food labelling sparks controversy

A proposal by the Czech Agriculture Ministry to ban the use of labels such as “soy sausage”, “veggie burger” or “mushroom steak” because they mislead consumers has sparked controversy. While meat producers argue that the names of traditional meat products should not be used for vegetarian versions of their goods, plant-based manufactures claim the proposal is just another bureaucratic hurdle that damages their competitiveness. Public opinion polls suggest that the vast majority of Czechs think that the ministry’s proposal is nonsensical.