🔗 Share this article EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods In a major decision this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products. What the Decision Signifies If the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed across EU markets. However, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which is far from certain. Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal Proponents argue that consumers require transparent information and that meat terms must only refer to items from animals. "An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart. Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision populist tactics. "Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Previous Efforts and Legal Context The isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago. France previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024. Business and Public Reaction Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established names would confuse consumers. Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most consumers understand these names when items are clearly identified as vegetarian. "Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote The proposal now requires review by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority approval to become law. Considering the mixed views within various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains unclear.