Ban on soy burgers: what does this mean for plant-based products in the supermarket?
Soy burgers, veggie sausages and plant-based steak: terms you’re probably familiar with if you regularly choose plant-based food. But there’s a good chance you won’t be able to use these familiar names for plant-based products much longer. The European Parliament has given the green light to a ban on meat-related terms for plant-based alternatives. A move that is causing quite a stir in the food industry.
The legislation: bye-bye veggie burger?
The proposal is simple: meat-related terms may only be used for products that actually contain meat. So, if you buy a plant-based burger in the future, it may no longer be called that. Instead of a veggie burger, you might have to make do with a soy patty. Asking for a soy sausage won’t help anymore either. Such sausages could suddenly be called ‘veggie tubes’ (no, we didn’t make this up ourselves).
The legislation was passed with 355 votes in favour and 247 against, but the discussion is far from over.
Supporters: preventing confusion
The Members of the European Parliament who voted in favour of the ban believe it could reduce confusion surrounding plant-based products. They claim that consumers might become confused when they see ‘burger’ or ‘sausage’ on packaging for a product that contains no meat.
Opponents: symbolic politics!
But opponents, including De Vegetarische Slager and Vivera, see it mainly as symbolic politics. They point out that people have understood for decades that ‘veggie burger’ and ‘soy sausage’ are plant-based alternatives. Even the European consumer organisation BEUC has said there is no evidence at all that these names cause confusion.
In fact, they make it easier for consumers to understand what they are buying. Moreover, brands such as De Vegetarische Slager already clearly communicate that their products are plant-based, using separate symbols and text on the packaging.
The legislation is not yet final
Although the legislation has already secured a majority in the European Parliament, the process is not yet complete. The European Commission and the EU member states still have to give their views on the proposal. This means there is still room for change. The Vegetarian Butcher Collective, which includes De Vegetarische Slager and Vivera, among others, is calling on the European Commission to reconsider the proposal and give the plant-based sector room to continue growing.
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