'Discussion on Monetary Matters': EU Parliament Ponders Over Prohibition of 'Vegetable Sausages'
In the European Union, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the use of traditional meat terms for plant-based products. The debate was sparked in 2017 when the European Court of Justice ruled that the term 'milk' could only be used for animal products. Since then, plant-based alternatives have been referred to as 'soy drink' or 'oat drink.'
The European Parliament is currently discussing a proposal to reserve traditional meat terms such as 'sausage,' 'steak,' and 'schnitzel' for animal products only. French MEP Celine Imart justifies this proposal, stating that customers must be able to clearly recognize whether they are buying meat or a plant-based alternative.
However, consumer advocates and businesses like the Vegan Butchery, a plant-based food store with locations in Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne, critically view name bans on substitute products. Simon Basaglia, the managing director of the Vegan Butchery, has been running the store for nearly a year and has been living vegan for several years. He believes that consumers are discerning and can tell the difference between plant-based and animal-based products.
Basaglia's customers at the Vegan Butchery include flexitarians who eat both plant-based and animal-based products. They are not deceived by the names of the products; instead, they want dishes that taste similar or even better than their animal-based counterparts. The Vegan Butchery's products are made from ingredients such as pea protein, sunflower oil, soy, rapeseed oil, and plant-based preservatives.
The Consumer Protection Center believes that terms like 'Chicken-type' are understood more clearly than 'Chicken.' They speak of a 'fair compromise for all sides,' suggesting that substitute products may linguistically refer to originals, provided the differences remain transparent. This consensus was found in the revision of the guidelines of the German Food Code 2024.
The EU is currently discussing a potential ban on classic meat terms for plant-based products, but it is unclear whether the ban will be enforced. If the ban is enforced, manufacturers may have to find creative replacement terms for their products, such as 'pea patty' or 'soy slice.'
In 2025, MEP Christine Anderson submitted a request to ban the use of traditional meat terms on substitute products in the European Union. Basaglia believes that the debate around name bans for plant-based products is more about money and the fear of declining sales from meat and dairy producers than consumer protection.
The Consumer Center and businesses like the Vegan Butchery argue that clear names are more beneficial for consumers. They believe that people do not need to be patronized; instead, they need honest products. The future of this debate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the demand for plant-based alternatives is on the rise, and consumers are becoming more discerning in their choices.
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