A proposal presented at the European Parliament stated that names such as burger, escalope, steak, along with sausage must be used “exclusively for products containing meat,” defined as “the edible parts of the animals.”
MEPs adopted the proposal with 355 votes for, 247 against, and 30 abstentions.
However, this now needs to be ratified through the European legislative process before it becomes law.
Commenting, Alex Holst, deputy head of policy at non-profit think tank the Good Food Institute Europe said: “Familiar terms such as ‘sausage’ and ‘burger’ help people know what to expect from plant-based meat products and survey after survey shows the vast majority of Europeans are not confused by them.
“With Europe’s food system facing so many challenges, it seems remarkable that policymakers have turned back the clock to proposals that were abandoned five years ago, and are devoting so much attention to unnecessary restrictions that would harm companies seeking to diversify their business.”
Jasmijn de Boo, global CEO of ProVeg International, called the vote “disappointing”.
She said: “Plant-based foods are, and always will be, an essential part of EU agriculture, its economy and its growth.
“Europe is the biggest consumer market globally for plant-based meat alternatives, a market from which EU farmers will benefit hugely as it creates higher-value markets for pulses, soy, wheat, fungi, nuts, and vegetables - many of which are already grown in Europe.
“Legumes also support better soil health and reduce fertiliser needs, lowering production costs. So there are both economic and environmental benefits to promoting, rather restricting, the sale of plant-based foods.”
However, Porky Whites managing director Francesca Wyatt welcomed the move saying it was “about time too.”
“I fully support the EU’s move to protect traditional “meaty” names. Using terms like “sausage” or “burger” for plant-based products is misleading and undermines the craftsmanship behind real meat,” she said.
“Most plant-based options are ultra-processed and bear no resemblance to the quality, taste, or integrity of the meat we produce. They should be marketed honestly, on their own merits — not by borrowing the identity of an entirely different industry.”
In October 2024 a ruling from the European Court of Justice concluded that EU member states were unable to stop food manufacturers from labelling vegetarian foods with ‘meaty’ names.
At the beginning of the year France’s highest administrative court annulled the French Government’s decision to ban the use of meat-based descriptors for plant-based alternatives. The enforcement of a 2022 decree had already been temporarily suspended following legal challenges from a number of plant-based food companies.
