EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Means
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU countries.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers require transparent information and that traditional names should exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This marks another attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now faces review by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.
