EU Parliament Votes to Ban Meat Terms for Veggie Products
On Wednesday, members of the European Parliament approved a resolution prohibiting the use of meat-related terms like “hamburger” and “sausage” for plant-based alternatives. This decision, made by a significant margin of 355 to 247 votes in Strasbourg, aims to shield farmers from misleading competition posed by products like veggie burgers and vegan sausages.
The resolution also includes terms related to eggs, such as “egg yolk” and “egg white.” Previously, the EU has classified dairy products strictly as those “secreted by the mammary glands,” indicating that items like oat milk should be referred to as oat drinks or something similar, rather than dairy.
However, the final fate of the veggie burger remains uncertain as this bill now enters negotiations involving the EU Parliament, the European Commission, and the governments of the 27 member states.
Céline Imar, a center-right lawmaker and sponsor of the motion, hailed the vote as “a huge victory for farmers in the European Parliament!”
She noted, “Sausage is meat produced by our breeders, and rightly so. Recognition of their work and transparency with consumers has won them over,” she stated.
The French livestock and meat organization, Interbev, supports the move, arguing that plant-based alternatives “appropriate the name of meat for marketing purposes,” thereby muddying the waters regarding their authenticity as pure, natural products.
Conversely, the Green Party voiced significant opposition to the proposal. Dutch MP Anna Strenberg criticized the “meat lobby” for attempting to stifle innovative competition in the food industry.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers seemed unconcerned about the implications. German MP Peter Riese remarked that it was disappointing for the European Parliament to focus on “such stupidity,” asserting, “Don’t fool the consumer. If it says ‘veggie burger’ or ‘vegetable sausage’ on the package, everyone can decide whether to buy it or not.”
The implications of this vote could extend beyond the EU. For instance, in Northern Ireland, which is still aligned with much of the EU’s regulatory framework, products such as Greggs Vegan Sausage Rolls might need to be rebranded as something like “vegan tube,” according to reports.
