Foodwatch says EU plan to ban terms like veggie burger is unlawful

The European consumer group Foodwatch said the European Parliament’s proposal to ban meat-associated terms such as 'veggie burger' and 'tofu sausage' for plant-based foods was unlawful, arguing that the measure conflicted with previous rulings from the European Court of Justice. The court had found that member states could not prohibit established product terms without providing clear alternatives that companies would be allowed to use.

The Parliament voted in October in favor of the restrictions, with 355 members supporting the measure and 247 opposing it. The proposal must still secure backing from the European Commission and a majority of EU member states before becoming law. Final negotiations were expected to begin on December 11.

Foodwatch said the draft rules failed to protect consumers and instead reflected pressure from meat and livestock interests. Chris Methmann, a member of the Foodwatch leadership team, called the proposal “nonsense” and “unlawful” and said it would not protect consumers. He urged Germany’s Federal Agriculture Minister, Alois Rainer, to press Brussels to abandon the measure. Rainer has previously voiced concerns about the plan.

Survey data suggested that German public opinion aligned more closely with Foodwatch’s position. A Forsa poll commissioned by the group found that 84% of respondents believed the ban was unnecessary.

The proposal originated with the European People’s Party, a center-right alliance in the Parliament. Although the CDU and CSU are part of the EPP, most of their members reportedly voted against the measure.

The outcome of the upcoming negotiations will determine whether the restrictions advance or whether further legal and political challenges prompt a revision of the proposal.