European Members of Parliament (MEPs) voted to ban the use of meat names for plant-based alternatives, including the term “veggie burger.” According to the adopted amendment, the terms “steak,” “escalope,” and “sausage” will only be allowed to be applied to products that actually contain meat.
The decision is part of a package of measures aimed at supporting European farmers and protecting their interests in the food chain. 355 MEPs voted in favor of the amendment, while 247 voted against. The authors of the initiative argue that meat producers should have a stronger negotiating position vis-à-vis large corporations that set supply chain conditions.
The European Parliament, the European Commission, and EU governments will now begin work on the final version of the law. The document also proposes restricting the use of the terms “hamburger,” “egg white,” and “egg yolk” if the product does not contain ingredients of animal origin.
Similar restrictions already apply to dairy products: EU law clearly states that only products derived from the mammary glands of animals can be called “milk.” Therefore, for example, oat milk must officially be labeled as “oat drink.”
An attempt to establish similar rules for meat alternatives was already discussed in 2020, but the European Parliament rejected the initiative. This time, supporters of the ban have secured the support of agricultural associations, who argue that names like “vegetarian burger” are misleading to consumers and hinder fair competition in the market.
