EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only refer to products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to control such terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Given the divided views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
