The plant-based food market has been growing year after year
and, it seems, is here to stay. Made from plant-based foods, such as peas,
rice, soybeans, chickpeas, among others, the plant-based products serve a
variety of audiences, such as vegetarians, ovolactovegetarians,
lactovegetarians, vegans and flexitarians.
A survey carried out by the Ibope Institute and coordinated
by The Good Food Institute (GFI) with 2,000 people from all social classes and
regions of Brazil found that Brazilians are reducing their consumption of
animal protein and replacing it more frequently with alternative proteins.
Supporters of this new habit, known as flexitarianism, have been growing and
represent a consumption group that jumped from 29% in 2018 to 50% in 2020,
according to the study “The Brazilian consumer and the plant-based market ”.
The upward movement for more natural products with healthy
and sustainable appeal has also stimulated the alternative protein industry to
look more closely at this consumer market, which wants new plant-based
products, but without giving up on taste and quality .
The products plant-based are developed with selected raw
materials, coupled with high-tech and minimal processing, resulting in
innovative products , which are advancing in different categories of food and
beverages. One of the great technological challenges of the industry has been
to give flavor and texture to plant-based products. After all, consumers who
are migrating or looking for a more alternative lifestyle expect to find in a
vegetable hamburger the flavor and texture of a conventional beef hamburger.
This new category of products has a high nutritional value
and can also be an alternative for the public that has some type of allergy to
components present in conventional foods.
How is the Regulatory Scenario for the Plant-based Market in
Brazil?
It is known that currently in Brazil there is still no
regulation that defines which products can be called plant-based . However, in
December 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture held a workshop and publicly
discussed the regulation of the sector.
Considering the divergences about the nomenclature that
exist, it is known that it is a segment in full growth in the country, and it
has already shown the importance of having a regulation in order to have fair
and fair competition between companies.
In March 2021, ISO 23662 was published , which establishes
and defines criteria for the entire production chain of vegan and vegetarian
foods. The standard establishes criteria for labeling and claims that will be
present on the label. ISO 23662 is not a regulation that entails penalties for
its non-compliance, but offers an international standard with technical
criteria regarding vegan and vegetarian foods. Therefore, the application of
ISO must arise from a strategic decision of the organization.
Still, with the publication of the ISO, it is possible to
notice a search for a differentiated product, that is, obtaining a specific
certification, as well as the vegan product certificate by the Brazilian
Vegetarian Society (SVB), which was created to outline standardized concepts
worldwide regarding definitions and technical criteria for foods and food
ingredients classified as vegan and vegetarian.
On 06/11/21, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Supply published the Public Taking of Subsidies through Ordinance No. 327/2021,
which aims to encourage discussion on the regulation of processed products of
plant-based origin .
In addition, there are two bills pending in the Chamber of
Deputies, PL 10556/2018, which proposes that the use of the word "milk"
and other dairy products be restricted only to products of animal origin, and
PL 2876/ 2019, which aims to prohibit products of non-animal origin from using
the term "meat" and others.
The plant-based regulatory scenario in the international
market
In addition to Brazil, we have other countries that have
been working with the regulation for plant-based foods , with a major highlight
being the regulation of Nutritional Labeling , Identity and Quality Standard
for each food, as well as its specific technical requirements.
In the United States, some states are restricting the use of
the term “hamburger and sausage”, while other countries allow the use of the
term, as long as the regulation makes it clear that the product is vegetable.
In Europe, discussions have been taking place in front of
Parliament restricting the use of the denomination of milk and yogurt for dairy
products, but for meat substitutes, for the time being, the same denominations
of products of plant origin are authorized.
In Australia, the advantages and disadvantages of using the
plant-based designation that indicate similarity to products of animal origin
are presented.
And in India, a proposal is being discussed not to allow the
use of the same name for similar milk products.
Through the above context, it is possible to notice a wide
and dynamic movement in the global regulatory sector towards plant-based,
because they are still themes of innovation within the food industry and
without a defined regulation.
Duas Rodas, in connection with consumer movements, has in
its portfolio solutions developed to meet the demand for plant-based products ,
including flavorings, modulators and texture agents, which are regulated
ingredients as provided for by specific legislation.
