EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require transparent information and that meat terms should exclusively refer to items from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
This marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, and it must obtain majority support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
