EU: “Vegan burgers” and “tofu steaks” could be banned – European Parliament approves ban on meat labels for plant-based foods
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Express newspaper
09/10/2025 19:53
Veggie burgers, vegan sausages or tofu “steaks” may disappear from supermarket shelves in the EU under the names we know them by now.
The European Parliament has voted to reserve the terms “burger”, “steak” and “sausage” only for products containing meat.
The proposal was initiated by French MEP Céline Imart and found strong support from the meat industry in France, being approved by 355 votes in favour and 247 against. However, the rule still needs to pass through the EU Council before becoming law.
“A steak or a sausage are products of our livestock, not of laboratories or plants. There is a need for transparency towards the consumer and respect for the work of farmers,” Imart declared.
The EU has already imposed similar restrictions on milk and its by-products: the terms “milk”, “cheese” or “butter” are not allowed for herbal drinks, which must be labeled as “oat drink” and not “oat milk”.
Mixed reactions: From French support to German opposition
The initiative has received strong support from the European People’s Party, especially French MEPs linked to agriculture. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also backed it: “A sausage is a sausage. A sausage is not vegan.”
But there was no shortage of objections. The leader of the EPP group in Parliament, Manfred Weber, himself said that this was not a priority and that “consumers are not so naive as to confuse a cauliflower steak with real meat.”
A survey by the BEUC (European Consumer Organisation) showed that almost 70% of Europeans clearly understand what they are buying, as long as the product is labelled as “vegan” or “vegetarian”.
In Germany – the largest plant-based food market in the EU – chains such as Aldi, Lidl and Burger King, along with sausage maker Rügenwalder Mühle, have sent an open letter to Parliament opposing the rule, saying it “makes it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions.”
Even environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have described the ban as a “victory for the powerful meat lobby,” warning that it could hinder the consumption of plant-based alternatives that have a lower climate impact.
From “vegan burgers” to lab-grown meat
Consumption of plant-based alternatives has increased fivefold in the EU since 2011. Now, critics fear that the new rule could slow this trend.
Meanwhile in Britain, scientists have introduced another innovation: a “pork steak” grown in the lab from several animal cells.
The 33-gram fillet, created in Newcastle, has the same texture, taste and aroma as real meat and is believed to be on the market soon. /GazetaExpress/
