Vegan steak can no longer be called "steak". This is one of the consequences of the law "relating to the transparency of information on food products", passed at the end of May, as spotted by the newspaper Les Echos this week. And this measure delights our culinary specialist Laurent Mariotte, host of La table des bons vivant, on Europe 1. "If we take the definition, a steak is a slice of beef to grill. I think the words have their importance, as in life, "he comments. According to him, this is a small victory against the big food groups, which used this lexicon to attract the consumer.
"You have to tell the truth. All of this is taken up by the agribusiness that makes it into marketing. It was to seduce that they called it a steak. So it is important that the words are reserved for their uses", justifies Laurent Mariotte.
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"Maybe a slice or a pâté"
Also finished are sausage, cutlets, thinly sliced or burgers. But then what name should be given to vegan foods that resemble these products? "It will be up to the industrialists to manage. Maybe a slice or a pâté, I don't know. It is true that these vegetable substitutes are becoming more and more popular. Lots of people find happiness there, but I think it's important to keep the importance of words, "said the journalist.
Laurent Mariotte also refers to another story from the past to support his words: "When we leave the traceability and the origin of our food, it can be dangerous. This is what happened with horse lasagna in 2013. There was marked beef when there was deception on the goods. And even beef, it's almost too vague because you want to know where it comes from. "
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Milk had already lost its name
The vegan movement has established itself in society in recent years, but Laurent Mariotte does not want meat and its universe to be erased. "These are words which are reserved for the butchery, for the meat. Today we realize that we must eat less meat, of better quality. But the vocabulary of the butchery must not disappear for as much. In this case, we can soon make a beet cheese? ", Quips our specialist.
Meatless food aficionados have already renamed their cheese "vromage". Same for milks. No more oat milk or almond milk: we are now talking about a vegetable drink.