Vegan labelling, a more informed consumption

Earlier this month a bill for vegan products was introduced. Processed foods that do not contain any ingredients of animal origin shall be labelled by the expression ‘vegan’, accompanied by a logo or symbol representing that it is made from plants. This information must be on the front of the packaging of the respective foods, so as to ensure their visibility.”
No doubt this project responds to a global trend. 10 years ago it was difficult to find products that did not have ingredients derived from animals, however, today there are about 250 products certified as vegan for sale throughout Chile.
Puratos’ Taste Tomorrow study, which reveals top consumer trends, notes that 37% of respondents buy plant-based foods weekly. It is certainly an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds as the global vegan food market is expected to reach $31.4 billion by 2026.
This bill is born from this new reality, from an increase in the population that does not consume foods of animal origin, but also from flexitarian consumers, who are those who consume meat, milk and eggs from time to time, but who choose to consume foods of vegetable origin. In fact, 27% of Chilean consumers buy Plant Based products once a week, a low percentage compared to the rest of the region, but which should be increasing.
People, especially the new generations, are increasingly informed of what they eat and how it impacts their health and the planet. In the same study noted above, 78% of respondents want to know where their food comes from and 75% think “I am what I eat” and prefer to select their food carefully.
It is essential to understand that plant-based eating is not only for vegans and that it has to do with the concern of the environment, but also with a growing awareness of the impact of food on health.
This new project will undoubtedly increase the number of vegans in our country, but it will also be an excellent alternative for these flexitarians, since it will allow people to make more conscious purchasing decisions and it will be easier for them to establish which products are of animal origin and which are not. This also represents an interesting opportunity for artisans and smaller businesses, which will surely have to expand their product offering to captivate these consumers.

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Original source in Spanish