EU Parliament wants to ban names like "Veggie Sausage"
The European Parliament wants to ban terms like sausage, steak, and schnitzel for vegan and vegetarian alternatives. The majority of MEPs voted in favor of only allowing animal products to bear these names in the future.
355 MEPs voted in favor of the amendment, 247 against, and 30 abstained. The yes votes came primarily from right-of-center groups, but also from members of the Social Democratic S&D group and the Liberals.
This doesn't yet spell the end of the "soy schnitzel." The 27 EU member states must also approve it for the measure to come into force. The parliamentary decision will now go into negotiations with the states to reach an agreement.
The motion was introduced by French conservative Céline Imart. She complained of a "real risk of confusion" because plant-based substitutes do not offer the same nutritional values as their animal-based counterparts. "It's about transparency and clarity for consumers and recognition for the work of our farmers", said Imart, who, like the CDU and CSU, belongs to the EPP group. Supporters include the Meat Industry Association.
However, the majority of German CDU/CSU MEPs voted against the motion today. It is "a shame that the majority in the European Parliament is concerned with such nonsense at a time when we really have other problems," said CDU MP Peter Liese.
Members of the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Liberals expressed similar views. "Terms like veggie burger or tofu sausage have long been commonplace", emphasized SPD MEP Maria Noichl. She added: "No farmer will end up with more money in their pockets as a result".
Germany is the largest market for plant-based alternative products in Europe. In 2024, around 121,600 tons of meat substitutes were produced in the country-twice as much as in 2019.
Consumer advocates speak out against ban
Consumer advocates also sharply criticized the planned ban. The organization Foodwatch stated that no one would accidentally buy tofu sausages thinking they were beef sausages. Stephanie Wetzel of the German Consumer Organization Association argued that with a term like "Vegan Schnitzel," consumers would know what to expect in terms of taste and which substitute ingredients the product contains.
Several retail companies - including the discounters Aldi Süd and Lidl, the burger chain Burger King, and manufacturers such as Rügenwalder Mühle - have spoken out against this in a joint letter. They argue that the familiar terms provide orientation and enable informed purchasing decisions.
The vote on the burger names in Strasbourg was part of a legislative package with which the EU actually aims to strengthen the position of farmers in negotiations over prices in supermarkets. This includes a requirement for written contracts between farms and their buyers. These are currently not standard in the dairy industry, for example.
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