EU debate on ‘meat names’ illogical and counterpro­ductive

The European Union finds itself in the middle of a linguistic tug-of-war over plant-based products. Earlier this month, the European Parliament voted in favor of restricting the use of terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” and “schnitzel” for vegetarian alternatives. According to critics, the decision has little to do with consumer clarity and everything to do with politics and vested interests.

Under the new, stricter definition adopted by the European Parliament, meat is defined solely as “the edible parts of animals.” This means that producers of meat substitutes would no longer be allowed to call their products “burgers” or “sausages.” The proposal was introduced by French MEP Céline Imart, who describes it as an issue of transparency and respect. “I do not want meat substitutes to benefit from meat designations. This is a fight for transparency, for respect for farmers, and for our food sovereignty,” she says.

‘Everyone understands that a veggie burger contains no meat’

Not everyone agrees. The Dutch Vegetarian Society calls the proposal illogical and a step backwards for sustainability. “Everyone understands that a veggie burger contains no meat,” says director Floris de Graad. “Such bans slow down the shift towards sustainability, while what we actually need is clarity and freedom of language.” Research by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) further shows that nearly 80 percent of consumers have no issue with terms like “plant-based burger,” as long as it’s clear the product contains no meat.

ProVeg Nederland is also critical. According to the organisation, the proposal mainly protects established interests. “You don’t make food safer or healthier by banning words,” write Hidde Boersma and Joey Cramer on behalf of ProVeg. They fear the measure would raise costs for companies, confuse consumers, and slow down the protein transition.

A battle of words with wider implications

Public administration expert Jeroen Candel (Wageningen University) calls the move “mostly symbolic.” He believes the debate serves as a distraction. “While the spotlight is on veggie burgers, crucial decisions on climate and agricultural reform are quietly being reversed,” he says.

The proposal now sits with the EU agriculture ministers and the European Commission, who must still reach a final decision. Meanwhile, resistance is growing—from producers to consumers—against what many see as an unnecessary battle over words instead of policies that truly contribute to the future of our food system.

Vegetariers.nl
Proveg.org
Resource-online.nl