European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods

In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.

The Decision Signifies

If the measure becomes law, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union markets.

Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.

The Debate Behind the Proposal

Proponents contend that consumers require transparent information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items from livestock.

"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.

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

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

Previous Attempts and Legal Background

The marks another effort to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in 2020.

France previously enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.

Industry and Public Reaction

Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.

Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are properly identified as vegetarian.

"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.

What Next

This proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it needs to obtain majority approval to become law.

Considering the divided opinions within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.