Overview

• The European Parliament will vote Wednesday on whether terms like burger, schnitzel, sausage and steak may be used only for products that contain meat.
• Céline Imart, the MEP steering the proposal, argues there is a real risk of confusion and says the measure would also protect farmers’ reputations.
• Foodwatch and Germany’s consumer federation criticize the plan as unnecessary, saying producers already label items as vegan or vegetarian clearly.
• European consumer group BEUC cites surveys indicating most shoppers are not confused and urges lawmakers to prioritize clear labeling over name bans.
• Any parliamentary endorsement would not make the rule final, as changes would still need negotiations with the 27 EU member states; Germany produced 126,500 tons of meat alternatives in 2024, while per-capita meat consumption was 53.2 kilograms.