Overview

• The chamber is set to decide Wednesday on a proposal to restrict terms like burger, sausage and schnitzel to products that contain meat.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer voiced support, with the agriculture ministry emphasizing transparency and clear distinctions on labels.
• Consumer groups including Foodwatch, BEUC and Germany’s Verbraucherzentrale oppose the move, citing no evidence of shopper confusion when items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian.
• Lead proponent MEP Céline Imart argues there is a real risk of confusion, notes different nutritional profiles, and says the measure protects farmers’ reputations.
• Even if approved, the change would still need agreement from all 27 EU countries and would mark a shift from the Parliament’s 2020 decision allowing such names on plant-based products.