In a significant vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
If the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and while traditional names must only describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from our livestock: not from synthetic production or plant products," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the decision political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to control such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next requires review by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views among various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
