European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods

During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.

What the Decision Signifies

If this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union markets.

However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.

Key Debate Behind the Measure

Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and that meat terms must only refer to items derived from livestock.

"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said French MEP Céline Imart.

Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the decision populist tactics.

"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.

Previous Attempts and Judicial Context

The isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.

The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in this year.

Industry and Consumer Reaction

Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would confuse shoppers.

Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as items are properly marked as vegetarian.

"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.

What Following the Vote

The proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.

Given the mixed views within both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.