When Oils Ain't Oils - And Lentils Ain't Lamb
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, is hoping a proposed Senate Inquiry into food labelling laws will protect Australia’s red meat industry.
The Inquiry proposed by Queensland Senator Susan McDonald will investigate the use of meat-terminology for the marketing of vegan, or non-meat products.
This includes descriptions such as ‘vegan bacon’ and `meat free mince’.
The Red Meat Advisory Council is angry that non-meat products are ‘piggyback marketing to sell an inferior product’.
Mrs McArthur said Australian red meat farmers have invested hugely in developing a world’s-best product - and marketing - and the Vegan movement needs to do its own work.
“We have a premium product that should not be hi-jacked or compared to a product that is quite simply not meat.
“If you don’t want to eat animal products - that’s your choice - but why would you want to eat fake animal products that look and apparently taste like animal products?
“Seriously, just stick to lettuce leaves and lentils and stop playing identity politics with our meat,” she said.
Mrs McArthur shares the concerns of Senator McDonald about copy-cat marketing on the impact of the ‘real’ meat industry – and the cascading effect.
“While it might seem a small matter to some – the deliberate use of meat `names’ and imagery by the Vegan promoters – ultimately has the ability to reduce the success and size of the meat industry.
“This means fewer jobs for livestock drivers, logistics companies, butchers. Even the nation’s 434,000 livestock farmers are threatened by this labelling contortion.
“Call carrots carrots and kransky kransky, lentils lentils and lamb lamb.
“Same-same but different just doesn’t cut it,” she said.
24 June 2021
