European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods

During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.

The Decision Means

Should this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.

Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.

Key Debate Surrounding the Measure

Supporters contend that consumers require clear information and that traditional names should exclusively describe items derived from livestock.

"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.

Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.

"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.

Past Attempts and Legal Background

The isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.

The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.

Industry and Consumer Response

Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would mislead consumers.

Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand product labels when items are properly identified as vegan.

"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.

What Next

The legislative measure next requires consideration by European governments, and it needs to obtain majority support to be enacted.

Given the mixed opinions among both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.