European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that customers need clear labeling and while meat terms must exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
