The European Union intends to ban the use of meat names on plant-based products
The European Parliament voted in favor of a bill that prohibits the use of terms like "soy sausage" and "vegan burger" on meat alternative products, such as plant-based sausages or plant-based meat slices. According to the bill, names like "sausage," "schnitzel," and "steak" should only be used for animal products. The proposal was approved by 355 members, while 247 rejected it and 30 abstained from voting. The supporting votes mainly came from right-wing groups, but they were also joined by deputies from the Social Democrats and liberals. However, the decision is not yet finalized, as it must also be approved by the 27 member states of the European Union. Negotiations with the governments of member states are scheduled to begin to reach a final agreement. The German government has not yet announced its position.
The proponent, French politician Céline Imart, justified her step by the existence of a "real danger in mixing," pointing out that plant-based products do not provide the same nutritional values as meat. She added that the goal is to ensure transparency for consumers and to recognize the efforts of farmers. Associations representing the meat sector also supported this ban, arguing that real sausages cannot be plant-based. For his part, Mertens said on a program on ARD: "Sausages are sausages, not plant-based." However, the majority of Christian Democratic Union members in the European Parliament voted against the proposal, and Peter Liese from the same party considered it unfortunate that the European Parliament is wasting its time on such matters amid more important crises.
Members from the Socialists, Greens, and Liberals expressed similar opposition, with Socialist MP Maria Noichl stating that terms like "vegetable burger" or "tofu sausages" have become familiar, and banning them will not increase farmers' income. Germany is the largest market in Europe for alternative meat products, with around 121,600 tons of meat alternatives produced in 2024, double the amount produced in 2019.
Consumer protection organizations like Foodwatch have firmly rejected the proposal, stating that no one buys tofu sausages thinking they are made from beef. Stephanie Witzel from the Federation of Consumer Associations explained that a label like "vegetarian seitan schnitzel" provides clear information about the taste and ingredients.
Similarly, major companies such as Aldi Süd, Lidl, the Burger King chain, and Rügenwalder Mühle signed a joint letter opposing the ban. They emphasized that familiar names help consumers make informed decisions. The ongoing debate about plant-based product names came in the context of a broader legislative package aimed at improving the negotiating position of European farmers with retailers, including mandatory written contracts in sectors such as dairy, where written contracts are not yet common.