European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
However, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers need transparent information and that meat terms should only refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The marks another attempt to control these names. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted 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 German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now faces review by European governments, and it must obtain broad support to become law.
Given the mixed views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
