The study is called Labelling of Plant-Based Seafood Substitutes: Scope and Key Issues.
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The Business Association of Aquaculture of Spain (APROMAR) and members of the Spanish fishing sector value chain have expressed their support to the European Parliament (EP) for the review of plant-based products labelling regulations.
According to the EP study Labelling of Plant-Based Seafood Substitutes: Scope and Key Issues, 45% of products use misleading names suggesting a link to fish or seafood, while only 13% provide enough information to identify what the product is.
Therefore, the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC Regulation) is being violated, as it states that food products must not be misleading, particularly regarding their nature and identity.
Specifically, the report encourages avoiding the use of commercial names of aquatic species for products that do not contain fish or seafood, in order to prevent misleading consumers.
Finally, the industry calls for a ban on the use of fish species names in products that do not contain them, the implementation of stricter labelling rules, and the promotion of genuine EU seafood through a dedicated Blue Food Action Plan.
"European seafood remains one of the most nutritious, sustainable, and low-carbon-footprint foods. It is produced and marketed by skilled professionals, strictly regulated, and is a source of high-quality protein rich in essential nutrients, including natural Omega-3," APROMAR's statement reads.
In June, 12 EU Member States, including Spain, submitted a legislative proposal to protect the names of animal-based foods, aiming to prevent their use on plant-based products.