There is no question of using the terminology “steak”, “sausage” or “ham” to qualify a product made from vegetable proteins. This ban was reiterated by the government, which notified a decree to this effect, in Brussels, on August 23. The information was delivered by way of a press release published by the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday, September 4.
Mere coincidence? The next day, Tuesday, September 5, the meat companies, the first of which is none other than the Bigard Group, federated within Meat Culture, organized their annual conference in Paris. Unsurprisingly, the subject of the now banned “vegetable steak” came to the table of the speakers. Not in the mouth of Marc Fesneau, the tenant of the rue de Varenne having declined the invitation, but in that of Arnaud Rousseau.
The new president of the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA), the main organization, has engaged in a small balancing act. It is true that this cereal producer from Seine-et-Marne is also, since 2017, president of the Avril Group. This strong arm of the plant sector in France is a powerful agro-industrial firm present in oils with the Lesieur and Puget brands, legumes, agrofuels, animal nutrition and chemicals. However, Mr. Rousseau recognized this in his speech: “The decree was attacked by Proteins France, of which Avril is a member and whose presidency is ensured by an employee of the group. »
A sensitive subject for the meat industry
Indeed, the government had already published, in June 2022, a decree to limit the use of the terms “steak” or “sausage” to animal proteins. Except that the text had been attacked by Proteins France, plant lobby, before the Council of State. The highest administrative court had suspended the government decree in summary proceedings. Mr. Fesneau, eager to put an end to misleading claims for the consumer, has decided to come back to the charge with a new text. It details the framework of the ban, provides penalties for manufacturers derogating from the rules and grants a deadline for implementation.
“Personally and on behalf of the FNSEA, I affirm that animal proteins and vegetable proteins should not be opposed”, declared Mr. Rousseau, before asserting on behalf of the Avril Group: “Protéines France will not file a new appeal against this decree. » An immediately nuanced statement: “This does not mean that some members of Proteins France will not file an appeal. »
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