EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need transparent labeling and that traditional names should only refer to products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Response
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
