European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require transparent labeling and that traditional names should only refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
France previously introduced a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now faces review by European governments, and it must secure majority support to become law.
Given the divided views among various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal remains unclear.