EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant vote this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names across EU countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear information and while traditional names must only describe items from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within various lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
