News
May 8, 2026 - Foods
ISO 8700 - new standards for plant-based foods create transparency
Plant-based foods are becoming increasingly important. The introduction of ISO standard 8700 defines clear criteria for the composition and labeling of plant-based products for the first time.
The standard distinguishes between purely plant-based foods (100% plant origin) and products that are predominantly plant-based but may contain small amounts of non-plant ingredients. So-called neutral ingredients, such as water, minerals, or additives, are also considered separately, as they are neither of plant nor animal origin.
A central aspect is the evaluation of modern manufacturing processes like precision fermentation. Products can be classified as plant-based even if individual ingredients are technically produced, provided they are not directly derived from animal sources. This standard takes current developments into account and provides more clarity for manufacturers and consumers.
In addition, ISO 8700 defines labeling requirements. Terms like "plant-based" or "100% plant-based" are expected to be used more uniformly in the future to create comparability and avoid misleading information.
The BAV Institute and Tentamus Laboratories support manufacturers with targeted analyses and assessments to reliably check the composition of products and ensure legally compliant labeling.
Source: Lebensmittelchemie Issue 2/2026