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5 days ago
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Veggie burgers and tofu steaks might be off the menu for good as the EU pushes to ban 'misleading' food labels.
The bloc's parliament has voted to restrict the use of terms like 'sausage', 'steak', and 'burger' exclusively to foods containing meat.
Proposed by French lawmaker Céline Imart, the new naming restrictions were slipped in with a broad package of technical rule adjustments to farming contracts.
Thanks to overwhelming support from the French livestock and meat industry, the bill was approved with a healthy majority of 355 votes in favour and 247 against.
However, the text will need to be negotiated by the 27 member states in the Council of the EU before it can become law.
French lawmakers and farming bodies have hailed the change as a major win for consumer clarity, arguing that shoppers could be confused by labels like 'vegetarian sausage'.
Ms Imart said: 'A steak, an escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock, not laboratory art nor plant products.
'There is a need for transparency and clarity for the consumer and recognition for the work of our farmers.'
Veggie burgers and tofu steaks could be off the menu for good as the EU Parliament votes for rules that would restrict terms like sausage and steak for meaty products (stock image)
The EU already has restrictions on using terms like 'milk', 'cheese', and 'butter' for anything other than products containing 'normal mammary secretion'.
This means European supermarkets are already required to stock 'oat drink' rather than oat milk.
Ms Imart argues that the new limitations on meat alternatives are 'in line with European rules' and that it was 'only fair' to offer meat the same protection.
EU politicians attempted to introduce a similar labelling ban in 2020, but the proposal was voted down.
Since then, right–wing parties with close ties to European farmers have made huge gains within the European Parliament.
The rules enjoyed particularly strong support from French politicians in the European People's Party (EPPF) with close ties to the agriculture industry, who have been lobbying for this change for years.
In 2024, France introduced its own law restricting the use of labels like 'sausage' and 'steak' – only for the rule to be overturned by the EU's top court the following January.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose party plays a key role in the EPP, has fully backed the ban, saying recently that 'a sausage is a sausage. Sausage is not vegan.'
Under the new rules, brands like Beyond Meat would be banned from using terms like 'burger' to describe their product to avoid leaving shoppers confused
Likewise, a spokesperson for the British Meat Producers Association (BMPA) told Daily Mail: 'The EU ban on certain words to describe plant-based products won’t be a barrier to consumers purchasing those products. If anything, it may clarify their plant-based credentials if that’s what people are searching for.'
The spokesperson added that calling plant-based products by meaty names runs the risk of people being 'unwittingly nudged away' from meat products.
Asked if they would like to see similar rules introduced in the UK, they responded that the BMPA would 'simply advocate for clear labelling that gives consumers the information they need to make informed choices about the food they eat.'
However, the new reception to the labelling ban has been largely negative outside of France.
Even key figures within Ms Imart's own EPP party have ridiculed the ban, with group leader Manfred Webber telling reporters that the ban was 'not at all a priority' and that 'consumers are not stupid when they go to the supermarket'.
Likewise, despite claims from the ban's advocates, there is no evidence to suggest that consumers are confused by terms like 'cauliflower steak'.
A recent survey from the European Consumer Organisation (the BEUC) found that the overwhelming majority of shoppers understand what they are buying.
Irina Popescu, food policy officer at the BEUC, said in a statement: 'Our data shows that almost 70 per cent of European consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian.'
The ruling has been criticised by green politicians and industry bodies, including a large group of German supermarkets, who say that the changes will make it harder for customers to make 'informed decisions' (stock image)
Germany, which is the largest market for plant–based foods, has been particularly concerned that the new rules might drive consumers away from non–meat options by forcing brands to adopt unfamiliar or confusing names.
A group of German retailers, including Aldi, Lidl, Burger King, and the sausage producer Rügenwalder Mühle, has written an open letter opposing the ruling.
The letter complains that the ruling 'makes it more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions'.
Environmental groups and green politicians have also opposed the ruling because it may push consumers away from plant–based options that generally have a smaller climate impact.
Consumption of plant–based alternatives in the EU has grown fivefold since 2011, according to BEUC data.
However, some are concerned that these rules could help to reverse this trend.
Dr Douglas Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace, told Daily Mail: 'This nonsensical legislation has not been demanded by confused consumers, but by the overly powerful meat lobby.
'It’s time for MEPs to stand up for consumers who are not so stupid as to think tofu might be meat, but do need to be properly informed about the ingredients in their food, and the real dangers some of them pose.'
British scientists grow a pork steak in a laboratory that looks and smells just like real meat
In news that will come as music to pigs' ears, British scientists have successfully grown a complete pork steak in the laboratory from just a few animal cells.
The Newcastle–based researchers were not afraid to try their 1.2oz (33g) fillet, and claim it tastes, feels and smells just like real pork.
When raw, the steak has the same consistency and elasticity as traditional meat, but becomes crispy and chars when pan fried.
So far, only one steak has been created, although the team believes it won't be long before their creation is available to buy.
A team of British scientists has successfully grown a complete pork steak in the laboratory (pictured) from just a few animal cells
