Vegan Food Company Banned by the Canadian Government

Popular vegan meat company, Field Roast, has experienced global distribution and explosive sales in recent years. Best known for its artisan breakfast sausages, hand-formed veggie burgers, and holiday roasts, the beloved Seattle-based company seemed to be doing everything right—until they received a surprising letter from the Canadian government. To continue selling their meat-free line in Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said they would have to test their products on live animals. According to Field Roast, “The regulations rule that we are making a ‘simulated meat product’ and need to add this language to our labels. The standards for a ‘simulated meat product’ require a Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) study (conducted using live animals) to evaluate the protein in relation to animal meats.” The Canadian government was allegedly tipped off by a competitor of the company, as the obscure regulation is typically not enforced or even known about by manufacturers.