EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant vote this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and while meat terms should exclusively describe products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views among both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
