EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across European Union markets.
However, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require clear information and that meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The marks another attempt to control such names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that most consumers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces review by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
