The South African Department of Agriculture has officially approved plant-based proteins marketed as meat alternatives.
These products, made from processed soy, pea, and other vegetable proteins, are now legally allowed to be presented as meat substitutes in stores and restaurants.
But here’s the concern:
Real red meat farmers were not all consulted.
And the long-term consequences could be devastating.
The Illusion of "Meat"
These plant products are processed in factories, shaped, coloured, flavoured — and presented as if they are the same as real beef, lamb, or pork.
But they are not.
Consumers are being sold an illusion of nutrition, often with no understanding of what real protein quality means. And worst of all, our farmers are now in competition with factories, not fellow farmers.
What’s at Stake for South African Meat Producers?
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Loss of market trust: If the public starts accepting fake meat as equal to red meat, farmers lose their market identity.
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No consultation: It appears the decision was made without involving all commercial or emerging red meat producers and organizations.
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Economic impact: Red meat farming in South Africa supports thousands of jobs and families. Every fake burger on a shelf means one less real product sold.
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Nutritional confusion: Many consumers don’t realise these substitutes are full of fillers, stabilisers, and artificial flavours — not clean, whole protein and you need B12.
It’s easy to sell plant protein as a “sustainable” option. But most of it is imported, processed in factories, and has a massive environmental footprint of its own.
This is not local food. This is industry profit dressed up in “green” clothing.
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What Needs to Happen
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Proper labelling must be enforced — so people know they are buying a plant-based imitation, not real meat.
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The red meat industry must be involved in every future decision.
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Public education campaigns should explain the difference between complete animal protein and plant-derived substitutes.
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And most of all, South African farmers must speak up — because if we stay silent, we will be replaced on shelves and in policies.
Red meat is more than food — it’s a livelihood, a culture, and a cornerstone of real nutrition.
We can’t allow fake meat to become the new normal — not without a fight, and not without the farmer’s voice at the table.
We need to fight this at all cost.
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