EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need transparent labeling and while traditional names must only refer to products from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand these names provided 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 European governments, where it needs to obtain majority approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
