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Dr Jo Swabe

@joswabe.bsky.social

2.3K followers 990 following 980 posts

Senior Director of Public Affairs for Humane World for Animals Europe (formerly Humane Society International). Advocate for animals. EU policy wonk. Erstwhile sociologist. Bird nerd & nature lover. Vegan foodie. Posting in EN & NL. Usual disclaimers apply.

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Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · Nov 21

👋 Time for another quick introduction.

I’m HSI/Europe’s senior director of public affairs & will be primarily engaging here on animal agriculture, food policy, fur, wildlife protection, biodiversity & EU policy/political stuff. And posting the occasional bird pic!

Chickens

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

BirdLife Europe & Central Asia @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social · 3h

⚠️𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆.⚠️

Once again, this assault on environmental safeguards is being sold as “simplification.” It’s not simplification, it’s dismantling. And it’s a betrayal of both nature and farmers.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 3h

And populism...

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 4h

This outcome goes against @europarl.europa.eu's previous position on meat denominations from 2020.

It undermines EU goals on competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable food systems.

And will also introduce unnecessary legal uncertainty & potential rebranding costs for the plant-based sector.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 4h

355 MEPs voted today to ban the use of meat denominations like burger & sausage for plant-based products.

This is a manufactured issue. Consumers are not confused.

If there was ever clearer evidence of political decision-making being heavily influenced by the animal agriculture lobby. This is it.

Voting results amendment on meat denominations
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-10-08-RCV_FR.pdf

Voting results amendment on meat denominations
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-10-08-RCV_FR.pdf

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

Ariel Brunner @arielbrunner.bsky.social · 4h

The EU frogmarched into ridicule by the intensive farm lobby. The European Parliament has voted through the Veggie burgers ban.

As the world burns, we make symbolic gestures to show we want to burn it faster.

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

Compassion in World Farming International @ciwf.org · 1d

📈 80% of EU consumers support using terms like veggie burger. So why is the EU trying to ban them?

This would only increase red tape and prevent the shift to sustainable, plant-rich diets.
145+ orgs are saying: there is #NoConfusion. Sign the letter: noconfusion.org

OPEN LETTER | No Confusion over Plant Based Products

noconfusion.org

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

There are already moves afoot to squash these developments too. Italy & Hungary have already passed legislation on it, despite no products yet having been authorised to be commercially placed on the market in the EU.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

9) It beggars belief that we are once again having to fight a meat denomination ban.

This fight against the veggie burger ban was won back in 2020, but the political winds have changed in the EU. Commonsense has made way for populism with even the VDL II Commission jumping on the bandwagon.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

8) There is no need for a veggie burger ban, the ECJ recently ruled that the Food Information to Consumers Regulatio was sufficient to protect & inform consumers about plant-based foods.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

7) So, basically, hindering the development of plant-based products would ultimately undermine the goal of supporting farmers' incomes & strengthening food security.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

6) Absurdly, those seeking to protect the interests of (animal) farmers, ignore the fact that the raw materials used to make veggie burgers etc. are produced by - surprise, surprise - EU farmers.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

5) In the context of EU efforts to boost competitiveness, achieve simplification & fostering innovation, creating further hurdles & red tape for companies/SMEs producing plant-based products would be counterproductive.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

4) Remarkably NO impact assessment has been conducted to show any positive societal benefits of banning such meat denominations.

Nor has there been any analysis of the negative consequences for EU farmers, SMEs & the food service sector.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

3) Depressingly @ec.europa.eu has drunk the industry Kool-Aid & included a provision on the denomination of plant-based foods within its proposal for the full CMO Revision.

So the report being voted on tomorrow is not the appropriate place to discuss the (non)issue.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

2) No-one is actually confused or misled by the current use of 'meaty' names for vegan & vegetarian products, particularly because they are marketed as such.

This is a non-issue manufactured by a protectionist animal ag industry, which right-wing politicians have latched into with glee.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 1d

#thread

1) On 8th October, @europarl.europa.eu will vote on a report on strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain.

This includes an absurd amendment (AM 113) seeking to restrict the use of meat denominations like burger & sausage for plant-based products.

Humane World for Animals Europe @humaneworldeurope.bsky.social · 1d

We have joined together with 400+ organisations to campaign against proposed restrictions in the EU on using meat-related terms for plant-based foods.

Read our open letter on this issue here: www.noconfusion.org

OPEN LETTER | No Confusion over Plant Based Products

www.noconfusion.org

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

Antigoni Effraimidou @antigonief.bsky.social · 1d

@humaneworldeurope.bsky.social is organising a rountable event at the EP, in Brussels, on 14/10, on the topic of the #REACH revision and #NAMs. It is kindly hosted by MEPs @tillymetz.bsky.social (The Greens) and @nielsfuglsang.bsky.social (S&D). Register now via:
www.eventbrite.com/e/1667448165...

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 3d

Nice to see some familiar names & faces like @georgemonbiot.bsky.social, @arielbrunner.bsky.social & @nina-holland.bsky.social featuring in ‘Boerocratie’.

Less so to see our office building being identified as locale of lobby evil. Isn’t just chemical industry who have offices at this address! 😬

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 3d

Really enjoyed today’s premiere of ‘Boerocratie’, which exposes Big Ag’s increasingly insidious influence on political decision-making in both the Hague & Brussels.

This really needs to be subtitled in English & screened at the EP!
youtu.be/nW5UAEKvLf4?...

Ontmaskerende documentaire Boerocratie, Bezetting van het Binnenhof

YouTube video by TheNGPF

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 4d

Vanmiddag ga ik naar de Tuschinski voor de première van ‘Boerocratie’, een film die onthult hoe ‘BigAg’ steeds meer greep krijgt op de (inter)nationale politiek.

Dat zie ik helaas met eigen ogen steeds meer gebeuren in Brussel.

Er zijn nog kaartjes:
www.ngpf.nl/boerocratie-2

Poster voor première Boerocratie. Cartoon van BBB-leidster die op een tractor door Den Haag rijdt.

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

Camille Perrin @perrincam.bsky.social · 5d

Thinking of European Commission staff behind the Farm to Fork Strategy when they'll read the new #EATLancet report.... They had it all right, and it's a real shame the EU's blueprint for healthy, fair and environmentally friendly #FoodSystems was derailed.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Planetary health diet’ could save 40,000 deaths a day, landmark report finds

Diet allows modest meat consumption and would also slash food-related climate emissions by half, says report by 70 leading experts from 35 countries

www.theguardian.com

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 6d

35 jaar geleden hielp het kijken naar GTST me om Nederlands te leren.

Binnen een jaar of zo beheerste ik de taal goed genoeg om te beseffen net hoe stom de serie eigenlijk was...

NOS @nieuws.nos.nl · 7d

GTST viert 35-jarig bestaan: 'Ik moest een traantje wegpinken'

GTST viert 35-jarig bestaan: 'Ik moest een traantje wegpinken'

Er stemmen nog altijd gemiddeld zo'n 700.000 mensen om 20.00 uur af op RTL4.

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 6d

Incredibly sad news. I had the privilege of meeting & hearing Jane Goodall speak several times over the past couple of decades. She has left an incredible legacy for both animal behavioural science & animal protection.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 6d

Jane Goodall has died at 91.

Her startling observations about chimpanzee behaviors revolutionized not only scientific understanding of the capabilities and inner lives of primates, but also long-held notions about what it means to be human. https://wapo.st/476clLO

Dr Jo Swabe @joswabe.bsky.social · 6d

Good to see that some of the @europarl.europa.eu committees have recently started up their own Bluesky accounts.

Environment, Climate and Food Safety Committee @envi.europarl.europa.eu · 20d

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety is now on Bluesky 🦋!

Follow us for regular Committee updates and activities - meetings, votes, missions, and more - and for more information visit our website at www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/e...

Highlights | Home | ENVI | Committees | European Parliament

Main page of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). Latest news, links to documents and videos of meetings.

www.europarl.europa.eu

Reposted by Dr Jo Swabe

Compassion in World Farming EU @ciwf.eu · 7d

🥩➡️🥦The @ec.europa.eu wants to ban words like “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” when used on plant-based foods.

But consumers aren’t confused – they just want choice.

📣 Join the campaign and sign the petition: noconfusion.org/petition
#NoConfusion #YesVeggieBurger

Stop the EU’s Ban on “Meaty” Words for Plant-Based Foods

weplanet.yourmovement.org