European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need clear information and that meat terms must only describe items from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research showing that most consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, and it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.
