EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need transparent information and that meat terms should only describe items from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that most consumers understand product labels as long as items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires review by European governments, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
