The Ongoing Debate Over Plant-Based Food Labeling in the EU
The European Union has long been engaged in a heated debate regarding the naming of plant-based foods. As these products gain popularity, questions remain about how they should be labeled and marketed within the single market. Can a soya-based patty truly be called a “veggie burger”? Should terms like “sausage” be used for non-meat products, or do such labels confuse consumers?
On Wednesday, the European Parliament took a firm stance, deciding that names such as hamburger, sausage, escalope, or steak can only be used for meat products and not for plant-based alternatives. This decision reflects a broader discussion on transparency, consumer clarity, and the recognition of livestock farmers’ work.
French MEP Céline Imart (EPP), who was responsible for the file during the plenary discussion on Tuesday, emphasized that terms like “steak,” “cutlet,” or “sausage” are associated with livestock farming. She stated, “No laboratory substitutes, no plant-based products.” This argument highlights the need to maintain clear distinctions between traditional meat products and their plant-based counterparts.
Current Legislation and Proposed Changes
Currently, legislation allows plant-based products to use meat-related terms, provided that the packaging clearly indicates that the product is made solely from plants. However, in July, the European Commission proposed an update to the Common Market Organisation (CMO), stating that “meat” refers exclusively to edible parts of animals, and “meat products” are derived solely from meat.
This proposal introduced a list of 29 banned terms for vegetarian or vegan products, including: beef, chicken, bacon, ribs, wings, and breast. These restrictions aim to prevent confusion among consumers, ensuring they know exactly what they are purchasing.
In 2020, the European Parliament had also attempted to introduce similar reforms during discussions on EU agricultural subsidies, but the proposal did not pass due to significant opposition.
Consumer Perspectives and Industry Concerns
One of the main arguments for banning these terms is the potential confusion they may cause among consumers. A 2020 survey by the European Consumer Organisation BEUC found that around 70% of consumers are not concerned about the naming of veggie “burgers” or “sausages” if the products are clearly identifiable as vegetarian or vegan.
Irina Popescu, food policy officer at BEUC, expressed disappointment with the EU Parliament’s decision, stating that it is unnecessary to ban commonly used meat-related names for plant-based alternatives. She argued that policymakers should focus on making packaging clear and understandable with trustworthy labels.
During the heated debate, some comments were particularly critical of the MEPs. Austrian MEP Thomas Weitz (The Greens) remarked, “Some politicians here in the house think that we need to mistrust consumers’ intelligence — that they’re not able to see and read what they’re actually buying. If something’s called a vegan burger, then everybody knows it’s not going to contain meat.”
Legal Precedents and Industry Response
Four hundred organizations have signed an open letter calling for the withdrawal of the ban on 29 meat-related terms for plant-based products. The letter urges the EU to uphold legal precedents that safeguard transparent, consumer-friendly labeling and support innovation and sustainability.
The legal precedent referred to in the letter is a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last year, which held that EU member states cannot prevent food manufacturers from using labels traditionally associated with meat on vegetarian foods, as long as the labels clearly describe what the products contain.
However, a comparable legal issue arose in 2017 when the EU’s top court addressed the use of dairy-related terms for plant-based products such as soy and oat drinks. In that case, the ECJ ruled that only products containing actual dairy could use terms such as milk, butter, or yoghurt, resulting in plant-based alternatives being labeled as “drinks” on European shelves.
At the time, the ECJ stated that only products containing actual dairy could use terms such as milk, butter, or yoghurt, which resulted in plant-based alternatives being labeled as “drinks” on European shelves.
The Parliament’s text must still be negotiated by all member states in the European Council, where it is expected to face significant division, as the issue is also being debated domestically in several countries.
