The Hellenic Vegetarian Association (HellasVeg) is closely monitoring the recent developments in Brussels and expresses its disappointment regarding the recent decision of the European Parliament (08/09/2025), which voted for a proposal to prohibit the use of terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” for plant-based products.
The Paradox of this Vote
It raises an issue that:
- had already been rejected by the European Parliament in 2020
- had been judged by the European Court, which ruled that existing legislation adequately protects consumers from misinformation.
- comes to the forefront at the same time as the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) published a report calling on policymakers to support meat alternatives citing health, climate, and food security reasons.
As Rafael Pinto, policy officer of the European Vegetarian Union (EVU), emphasized, “there is no data supporting the argument that consumers are confused by names like ‘burger’ or ‘sausage,’ as they are accompanied by relevant designations such as ‘plant-based.’ On the contrary, such a ban would harm raw material producers, businesses innovating in the plant product sector, and hinder transparency for consumers by using unfamiliar names.”
Furthermore, the European Commission has proposed banning the use of 29 words for plant-based products, such as “chicken,” “pork,” “beef,” and “bacon,” leaving only a few exceptions. It remains unclear when and how these proposals will be discussed in the Plenary.
HellasVeg’s Position
The Hellenic Vegetarian Association (HellasVeg), by sending letters to the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. K. Tsiaras, as well as to the Permanent Representative of Greece to the European Union, Mr. I. Vrailas, took an active stance and requested support in crucial meetings and immediate consumer updates. A few days later, before the vote on Monday, September 8, HellasVeg addressed letters to Greek MEPs for Agriculture and Rural Development, urging them to vote against Amendment 645.
In its letters, HellasVeg emphasizes the need to:
- protect names that help consumers recognize plant-based products
- reject measures that unjustifiably limit innovation
- promote policies that enhance sustainability, innovation, competitiveness, and new opportunities for Greek agriculture
Unfortunately, the outcome was not in our favor.
However, the fight continues: HellasVeg insists that the discussion is not limited to words, but concerns the future of food in Europe and the opportunities that arise for Greek farmers and businesses.
Thessaloniki, 15 September 2025