EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
If this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across EU markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that customers need clear labeling and while meat terms should only describe products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among various politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
