Food law requires that food information is accurate, clear and easy to understand and does not mislead the consumer. Misleading marketing of food is prohibited.
In the opinion of the Finnish Food Authority, expressions such as vegetarian or vegan may be associated with names that imitate meat products, where the name describes the shape of the food, such as vegetable sausage or vegetable ball or vegetable patties. In Finnish, the word "pihvi" (patty, steak, cutlet) is usually considered a broad concept to describe mainly the shape and method of preparation of food. For example, "maksapihvit" (liver steaks), "kasvispihvit" (vegetable patties) and "kalapihvit" (fish patties) are well-established food names in Finland. If part or all of the meat of a sausage (or other meat product) is replaced by vegetables, the vegetables must be shown in or near the name of the food. A product sold exclusively under the name of a sausage is considered to be a meat product.
By contrast, expressions contrary to food law include references to an animal or part of a carcase, such as "kasvisfilee" (vegetable fillet), "kasviskinkku" (vegetable ham) or "vegaaniset fileepihvi" (vegan fillet cutlet), "naudan sisäfileepihvi, vege" ('beef tenderloin, veg) and "kasvispaisti" (vegetable joint). Nor is "kasvissalami" (vegetable salami) an acceptable name for food, as salami is the name for a sausage that has a unique manufacturing process that has not been repeated for vegetable-based products. The expressions "kasvispekoni" (vegetable bacon) and "kasviskebab" (vegetable kebab) are also misleading. Bacon originates from the side or belly of a pig. Kebab means roasted meat that is cooked on skewers.
Example: “Vegaani- vai kasvispihvi” (vegan or vegetable patty)
The name “vegaanipihvi” (vegan patty) may be used for a product that does not contain anything of animal origin other than as a possible residue. "Kasvispihvi" (vegetable patty) may contain something of animal origin, such as milk.
Example: Frankfurter versus vegetarian frankfurter
A product sold exclusively under the name “frankfurter” is considered to be a product of animal origin, a meat product. Frankfurter comes under the same category as sausages. If the manufacturer of the frankfurter replaces all or part of the meat traditionally used in frankfurters with another ingredient, such as vegetables, the ingredient, for example soybean or carrot frankfurter or vegetable frankfurter, must be clearly indicated in or near the name of the product.