EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need transparent information and while traditional names must only describe products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize these names provided items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now requires review by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad support to become law.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.