EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need transparent labeling and that traditional names must exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to control these names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
