The teenage climate activist joins several voices that call on leaders to reject the ‘unnecessary and extreme restrictions’ proposed by Amendment 171, which also contradict public health and sustainability goals of the EU’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.
Greta Thunberg has raised her voice in protesting new, stricter rules under consideration by the European Parliament to ban vegan products from even referencing anything dairy-like or using packaging associated with the dairy industry.
This new proposed law called Amendment 171 otherwise known as the dairy ban was voted in favour by MEPs last year.
EU law already bans the use of terms including ‘oat milk’ or ‘vegan cheese’.
However, the new rules would further prohibit the use of descriptors that attempt any “imitation or evocation” of existing dairy products such as ‘yoghurt-style’ and ‘creamy-texture’.
Plant-based companies could also be banned from using packaging styles that bear resemblance to dairy packaging – for example, milk bottles and yoghurt pots.
In addition, they also could be stopped from making comparisons between the environmental impact of plant-based products and traditional dairy.
Reject the legislation
As EU council leaders enter talks with the Commission and the Parliament this week in a process known as a ‘trilogue’, to decide if it should become law, 21 international NGOs including The Good Food Institute, Greenpeace, WWF, Food Watch, Compassion in World Farming and The vegan society have also called on EU leaders to reject the legislation.
They argue in their open letter addressed to the Portuguese presidency of the council of the EU that the ban contradicts EU’s public health and sustainability goals of the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.
‘Contradicts climate goals and basic common sense’
Greta Thunberg in her recent tweet wrote: “We are in a climate- and ecological emergency. What should we do?
“I know! Let’s ban plant-based dairy from displaying allergen info being sold in cartons, using images of their own products and explaining the climate impact of food. That’ll fix it.”
We are in a climate- and ecological emergency. What should we do?
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 23, 2021
I know!
Let’s ban plant-based-dairy-from-displaying-allergen-info,-being-sold-in-cartons,-using-images-of-their-own-products-and-explaining-the-climate-impact-of-food. That’ll fix it. https://t.co/lO6CzdJTop
Swedish plant-based milk brand Oatly created a 60-second clip to spotlight the “stupidness” of the EU proposal that “contradicts climate goals and basic common sense”.
Look! It’s 60 seconds of stupidness featuring an EU proposal that contradicts climate goals and basic common sense, brought to you by friends of the European milk lobby. Or skip the show and just sign the petition at https://t.co/zGzazgLb4o. #StopPlantbasedCensorship #StopAM171 pic.twitter.com/M4SIH9Lb9O
— Oatly (@oatly) January 21, 2021
Slamming the dairy lobby, Oatly’s Cecilia McAleavey, Director of Public Affairs and Sustainable Eating told Food Navigator: “People are not stupid — everyone understands that this is an attempt by the dairy lobby to hinder the shift towards sustainable plant-based eating.”
Petition
Oatly and the owner of Flora margarine are spearheading a campaign to overturn the new proposed EU rules.
Their petition reads: “ Dairy terms are already protected by law. Amendment 171 would go further and censor all use of dairy-related language, packaging, or imagery for plant-based foods.
“In this way, amendment 171 would not only hide information from consumers but also hinder innovation and the emerging sustainable food sector.
“Altogether, it would be a huge reversal of the work done so far to meet the EU’s own goals on public health and sustainability, as agreed under the terms of the Paris Agreement.
“Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s a highly irresponsible move.”
You can sign the petition here.
Share this story: Greta Thunberg attacks EU plan to censor vegan ‘dairy’ products.
About The Author
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
Tobey Maguire often speaks about veganism and animal issues. Tobey Maguire, the actor best known for playing Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy, is a vegan. He has been a vegetarian since 1992 and became a vegan in 2009. A lifelong commitment to animal rights Maguire’s decision to go vegan was motivated by his love …
Continue reading “Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know”
Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
The number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based industry increased by almost a third from April to July 2023, GlobalData reported. The plant-based food industry is booming, and this is reflected in the number of job openings in the sector. According to data from GlobalData, the number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based …
Continue reading “Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz.
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit.
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God