The European Parliament has adopted legislation on Tuesday that prohibits the use of terms such as „vegetable steak,” „vegetable bacon,” or „vegetable liver” in an attempt to protect meat producers and avoid confusion among consumers.
Instead, vegetarian burgers and plant-based sausages will be able to keep their names, according to a compromise negotiated in March between Members of the European Parliament and the European Union member states.
The new rules come at a time when vegetable products imitating meat are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, especially in Germany, the largest European market for this type of food.
Right-wing politicians and representatives of the meat industry have called for the banning of terms such as "steak," "burger," or "sausage" for vegetarian products, arguing that these names affect the "recognition of a raw and 100% natural product".
Following negotiations, a compromise solution was reached: the terms "steak," "bacon," and "liver" will be exclusively used for meat products, while names such as "vegetarian burger" or "vegetable sausage" remain allowed, at least for now.
The text must also be formally approved by the 27 member states of the European Union.
Meat officially defined as "edible part of animals"
The new law also establishes an official definition of meat, described as "the edible parts of animals," writes AFP.
Therefore, products grown in a lab or obtained from cells will not be able to use this designation.
"This is a victory for our producers, for their expertise, and for the clarity owed to consumers," said French MEP Céline Imart, the proposal's initiator.
Even Paul McCartney intervened in the debate
Discussions on the naming of plant-based products have sparked strong controversies in the European Parliament and beyond. Even Paul McCartney got involved in the debate, defending the use of names such as "soy steak" or "tofu sausage," writes Le Figaro.
The new rules will apply, in a first stage, until the end of next year.
Meanwhile, negotiations have already begun at the European level for the next reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a process that takes place once every seven years and could bring back the discussion on the names of plant-based products.
The market for meat alternatives has grown significantly in recent years, amid consumers' concerns for healthy eating, animal protection, and reducing environmental impact, considering that the livestock sector is a major source of CO2 emissions.