European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across EU countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and while meat terms must only refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names as long as items are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now faces review by EU member states, where it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
