{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T06:04:57Z","timestamp":1790057097633,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790035200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>As the global food system seeks sustainable solutions to address the challenges of climate change and a growing population, meat alternatives have emerged as a promising option for reducing the environmental impact of meat production. Over the past decade, their promotion has increased, while debates persist regarding the use of meat-related terminology on these products and its potential to confuse or mislead consumers. This study investigates Dutch consumers\u2019 perceptions of meat alternatives, with particular emphasis on elements perceived as confusing or misleading.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A focus group study was conducted among Dutch consumers to explore their perceptions and experiences with meat alternatives and current labeling practices using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. A total of five focus groups were conducted, with participant compositions differing according to their level of meat consumption.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Product naming, positioning, and credence attributes were identified as key factors shaping consumer expectations. Although participants did not report unintentionally purchasing meat alternatives, they expressed concerns about potentially feeling misled by current labeling practices. At the same time, participants recognized that meat-like terminology can enhance familiarity and provide useful reference points regarding sensory properties, preparation, and usage.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion and conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings highlight a distinction between legal and societal forms of misleading, emphasizing the need for clear and transparent communication across the food chain. Regulatory frameworks and policy efforts may play a critical role in standardizing labeling practices to ensure that information on meat alternatives is both informative and trustworthy. Balancing consumer protection with effective communication is essential for fostering consumer trust and supporting the wider adoption of sustainable meat alternatives in line with global sustainability goals.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1938629","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T05:40:06Z","timestamp":1790055606000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Seductive or deceiving? A focus group study on perspectives and expectations of consumers on meat alternative labeling practices"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Linsay","family":"Ketelings","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Food Claims Research Venlo, System Earth Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University Campus Venlo","place":["Venlo, Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roos","family":"Caanen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Food Claims Research Venlo, System Earth Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University Campus Venlo","place":["Venlo, Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Remco C.","family":"Havermans","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Behavioural Gastronomy, System Earth Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University Campus Venlo","place":["Venlo, Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stef P. J.","family":"Kremers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University","place":["Maastricht, Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alie","family":"de Boer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Food Claims Research Venlo, System Earth Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University Campus Venlo","place":["Venlo, Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1002\/aepp.13232","article-title":"Meet the meatless: demand for new generation plant-based meat alternatives","volume":"45","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl Econ Perspect Policy"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3119","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2020.1793730","article-title":"Plant-based food and protein trend from a business perspective: markets, consumers, and the challenges and opportunities in the future","volume":"61","author":"Aschemann-Witzel","year":"2021","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.3389\/fsufs.2020.00134","article-title":"Considering plant-based meat substitutes and cell-based meats: a public health and food systems perspective","volume":"4","author":"Santo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Sustain Food Syst"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101960","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cdnut.2023.101960","article-title":"How different dimensions shape the definition of meat alternative products: a scoping review of evidence between 2000 and 2021","volume":"7","author":"Ketelings","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr Dev Nutr"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1007\/s12027-023-00763-8","article-title":"Name of the food and other communication on alternative proteins","volume":"24","author":"Buijs","year":"2023","journal-title":"ERA Forum"},{"key":"ref6","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref7","first-page":"671","article-title":"Regulation (EU) no 1308\/2013 of the European Parliament and of the council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing council regulations (EEC) no 922\/72, (EEC) no 234\/79, (EC) no 1037\/2001 and (EC) no 1234\/2007","volume":"347","year":"2013","journal-title":"Off J Eur Union"},{"key":"ref8","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref9","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref10","article-title":"Case C-438\/23, Prot\u00e9ines France and others: judgment of the court (second chamber) of 4 October 2024 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d\u2019\u00c9tat \u2013 France) \u2013 Prot\u00e9ines France and others v Ministre de l\u2019\u00c9conomie, des finances et de la Souverainet\u00e9 industrielle et num\u00e9rique (reference for a preliminary ruling \u2013 regulation (EU) no 1169\/2011 \u2013 provision of food information to consumers \u2013 article 2(2)(n) to (p) and articles 7, 9 and 17 \u2013 fair practices concerning the naming of foods \u2013 legal names, customary names and descriptive names \u2013 substitution of components or ingredients of a food \u2013 article 38(1) \u2013 matters specifically harmonised \u2013 national measures prohibiting the use of meat-related names to designate a product containing vegetable proteins)","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref11","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref12","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref13","first-page":"54","article-title":"Regulation (EU) no 1169\/2011 of the European Parliament and of the council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending regulations (EC) no 1924\/2006 and (EC) no 1925\/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing commission directive 87\/250\/EEC, council directive 90\/496\/EEC, commission directive 1999\/10\/EC, directive 2000\/13\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, commission directives 2002\/67\/EC and 2008\/5\/EC and commission regulation (EC) no 608\/2004","year":"2011","journal-title":"Off J Eur Union"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101309","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cofs.2025.101309","article-title":"Food-related fake news, misleading information, established misconceptions, and food choice","volume":"63","author":"Melios","year":"2025","journal-title":"Curr Opin Food Sci"},{"key":"ref15","first-page":"1","article-title":"Are Consumers Really Confused by Plant-Based Food Labels? 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