Europe's plant-based sector pushes back against labeling complaints; WOOP4 launches seafood analog line in Canada

SeafoodSource is closely following the plant-based and cell-based seafood alternatives market by compiling a regular round-up of updates from the sector.

-Montreal, Canada-based food and beverage manufacturing company WOOP4 announced a new product line of seafood analogs. The offerings include a smoked salmon analog, tuna, analog, tropical piranha analog, and mahi analog. 

“Imagine a world where every bite is a celebration and every meal is a friendly gathering. With WOOP4, life without fish is far from boring: it’s colorful and festive. We believe that dietary restrictions should have no place, and we make it our duty to create products that are made for everyone,” the company said in a release. “Whether you're a sushi lover or a tartar and poke bowls fan, our plant-based products invite you to explore a cuisine with no limits. It's perfect for vegans, pregnant women, those with food allergies or simply those who want to try something different.”

All of its products are fish-free and free of soy, gluten, peanuts, dairy, eggs, sesame, and mustard, the company said in a release.

- Stockholm, Sweden-based plant-based seafood alternatives maker Hooked Foods announced a partnership with 400 Rewe West supermarket locations across Germany. 

“Crazy to think this would be happening when we started this business with literally nothing but a vision four years ago,” Hooked Foods CEO Tom Johansson said in a LinkedIn post.

The sales partnership includes Hooked Foods' Salmoonish salmon analog and Toonish tuna analog product, according to Greenqueen.

“At Hooked, we’re thrilled to finally bring our Swedish plant-based seafood range to Germany,” Johansson said. “Our success in the Nordics has demonstrated a growing demand for innovative, sustainable alternatives, and we’re excited to introduce our iconic Swedish brand to German consumers.”

- Future Ocean Foods (FOF), a global association representing the seafood alternatives industry founded in November, contributed to the European Union hearing on product nomenclature, FOF Founder Marissa Bronfman said on LinkedIn.

At a public hearing on 29 November, the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries (PECH) gathered to discuss fish-related terms for seafood alternatives. Conxemar, representing Spain's seafood industry, has accused the plant-based sector of deceit in its labeling practices. The European Vegetarian Union, however, argued consumers are not confused with current labeling practices.

“Alternative seafood is an incredibly exciting, absolutely necessary, and rapidly growing global category that I urge food and climate investors to invest heavily in, for positive returns that also positively impact people and the planet,” Bronfman said.

Photo courtesy of WOOP4