Plant-based foods can still be called sausages and burgers, insists EU

Plant-based products that do not contain meat can continue to be labelled “sausages” or “burgers”, European politicians have said.

In votes on issues relating to agricultural products, the European Pa r l i a m e n t said that so-called veggie burgers, soy steaks and vegan sausages can continue to be sold as such in restaurants and shops across the union.

E u r o p e’s largest farmers’ association, Copa-Cogeca, had supported a ban, arguing that labelling vegetarian substitutes with designations that brought meat to mind was misleading for consumers.

On the opposite side of the debate, a group of 13 organisations – including Greenpeace and WWF– urged the politicians to reject the proposed amendments, arguing that a ban would have not only exposed the EU “to

r i d i c u l e ”, but also damaged i t s environmental credibility.

They said promoting a shift towards a more plant-based diet is in line with the EU Commission’s ambition to tackle global warming.

Losing the ability to use the terms steak or sausage might make those plantbased produc ts more obscure for consumers.

After the vote, the European Consumer Organisation, an umbrella group bringing together consumers’ associations, praised the MEPs for their “common sense”.

To g e t h e r with Greenpeace, the group regretted that politicians accepted further restrictions on the naming of alternative products containing no dairy.

EU lawmakers are fine with ‘vegetarian sausages’.