During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across European Union countries.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and while traditional names must only refer to products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now faces consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided views among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
