EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and that meat terms must only refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to regulate such names. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad support to become law.
Given the divided views among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.