Key Facts
• October 8, 2025: EU Parliament approved the proposal by 355 to 247 votes.
• Proposal bans terms like “burger” and “steak” for plant-based products.
• Requires approval from EU Commission and 27 member states to become law.
• Plant-based food industry is rapidly growing with increasing non-meat lifestyles.
• French MEP Céline Imart led the proposal, citing consumer confusion.
• Proposal extends to terms like “egg yolk” and “escalope” for meat-based products.
• EU already restricts dairy terms like “milk” to animal-derived products.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the ban, stating “sausage is not vegan.”
• Critics, including Green Party and environmental groups, call the proposal “pointless.”
• German retailers and food chains oppose the ban, citing consumer clarity concerns.
• Similar proposal in 2020 was rejected by the EU Parliament.
Summary
The EU Parliament has approved a proposal to ban the use of meat-related terms like “burger” and “steak” for plant-based products, with 355 votes in favor and 247 against. The measure, seen as a win for the livestock industry, aims to prevent consumer confusion but requires further approval from the EU Commission and member states to become law. Critics, including environmental groups and Green Party members, argue the ban is unnecessary and hinders sustainability. German retailers and food chains have also opposed the move, stating it complicates consumer decision-making. A similar proposal was rejected in 2020.
