In their quest for a healthy lifestyle, Ukrainians pay considerable attention to healthy eating. "Vegetable meat" and "vegetable milk" are new trends in the gastronomic preferences of a large number of people. The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection periodically receives requests to determine whether the composition of such products corresponds to their name and whether the advertising of such products misleads consumers.
To begin with, let's look at the terms defined by the Law of Ukraine "On Basic Principles and Requirements for Food Safety and Quality":
◻️ products of plant origin - mushrooms, berries, vegetables, fruits and other food products of plant origin intended for human consumption;
◻️ food product of animal origin - milk, meat, fish, shellfish and crustaceans, including fresh, chilled or frozen, eggs, honey, their derivatives and other products made from animal parts, their individual organs and/or tissues intended for human consumption;
◻️ novel food product or ingredient - a food product or ingredient that differs significantly from conventional food products or ingredients available on the market and must be assessed in terms of its impact on consumer health.
☝️ The same law stipulates that the state registration and maintenance of state registers of new food products, food additives, flavourings, enzymes, mineral drinking water in accordance with the established criteria, as well as approval of food safety indicators and other objects of sanitary measures is carried out by the central executive body that forms and ensures the implementation of state policy in the field of healthcare (the Ministry of Health).
The sale of novel food products that are not registered in accordance with the requirements of this law is prohibited.
It is also worth noting that the Law of Ukraine "On Information for Consumers on Food Products" stipulates that information about a food product should not be misleading, in particular regarding the characteristics of the food product. The labelling must indicate the composition of the product to enable the consumer to make an informed choice.
✔️ The Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" stipulates that the main principles of advertising are: legality, accuracy, reliability, use of forms and means that do not cause harm to the consumer of advertising. At the same time, it is prohibited to disseminate information about goods whose production, circulation or importation into the customs territory of Ukraine is prohibited by law.
👉 Thus, the production, distribution of advertising, and implementation of advertising activities using such names of food products as "vegetable-based meat", "vegetable meat dishes", "vegetable meat" and derivatives thereof are not considered to be a violation of the law, provided that the production, circulation or importation of such food products into the customs territory of Ukraine is carried out in compliance with the requirements of the above laws.
Source: State Food and Consumer Service of Ukraine