EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban 'Veggie Burger' and Other Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods

EU Lawmakers Vote on Plant-Based Food Terminology

• 🇪🇺 EU lawmakers have voted to ban the use of terms like 'veggie burger' for plant-based products.
• ⚖️ This vote is part of a proposed EU law aimed at protecting farmers and strengthening their negotiating positions.
• 🥩 The law would restrict descriptions such as 'steak' and 'sausage' to products that contain meat.

Specific Terms and Previous Votes

• 🍔 Terms like 'veggie burger', 'vegan sausage', 'hamburger', 'egg yolk', and 'egg white' would be banned under the proposed regulation.
• 🥛 The EU has previously defined dairy items, leading to terms like 'oat milk' being referred to as 'oat drink'.
• 🚫 In 2020, EU lawmakers voted against a similar proposal to ban meat-related terms for plant-based alternatives.

Legislative Process and Farmer Support

• 📊 Lawmakers at the European Parliament voted 355 to 247 in favor of the amendment.
• 🤝 The regulation aims to prevent powerful companies in the food supply chain from imposing unfavorable conditions on farmers.
• 🗣️ Negotiations on the final text will involve representatives from the parliament, EU governments, and the commission.