Seafood producers ask Consumer Affairs for protection against plant-based

Editor/Mohamed Shihab

The sector demands that the ministry monitor that the labeling complies with current regulations. Seafood companies have asked the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for greater control in the labeling of plant-based products. In a meeting held with the general director of Consumer Affairs, Daniel Arribas, representatives of the sector have demanded that the Administration ensure that the labeling of plant-based products complies with current regulations.

At the meeting, they showed examples of labels that, in the opinion of the fishing organizations, do not comply with current legislation, through the use of fantasy names (fictitious example, 'Sabores del Mar') or pictograms that refer to ingredients not included, among other issues.The sector has been able to corroborate thanks to an independent study that consumers feel confused with the labeling of plant-based foods.

Thus, the “Power of Plant Based Alternative Foods and Beverages 2023” report prepared by Nielsen indicates that 54% of respondents recognize that they have difficulties differentiating plant-based processed products from animal protein on the supermarket shelf. Furthermore, 58% admit that they spend some or a lot of time analyzing the packaging.

The sector also recalled at the meeting that Aesan's nutritional recommendations establish a fish consumption pattern of at least three servings a week, a criterion similar to that of other European Union countries such as France or Sweden, although the health authorities from Portugal even raise this figure to between four and seven servings per week.

For this reason, they have stressed the need to redouble efforts to monitor these products so that they comply with current regulations and can guarantee that the consumer has clear, truthful, rigorous and precise information.

Source: InfoRetail (Translated from the origial in Spanish