EU Bans 31 Meat Terms for Plant-Based, Lab-Grown Products

Does banning meat terms for plant-based foods protect farmers or block access to healthier options?

Published 8 hours ago

EU Bans 31 Meat Terms for Plant-Based, Lab-Grown Products

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Above: Saitan steaks are on display in the vegan butcher's shop in Cologne, Germany, on Oct. 2, 2025. Image credit: Oliver Berg/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Protecting meat-related terms for livestock products is a major victory that safeguards farmers' livelihoods and preserves their unique agricultural heritage. Reserving names like "steak" and "foie" for actual meat products shields farmers from unfair competition from lab-grown and plant-based alternatives and recognizes the value of their hard work.

Christophe Hansen on X

Céline Imart on X

Establishment-critical narrative

Banning meat-related names for plant-based foods creates unnecessary confusion and blocks consumer access to healthier options for no legitimate reason. After all, research has shown that roughly 70% of consumers support using these familiar terms, as long as products are clearly labeled vegetarian or vegan, which the majority already do.

BEUC BEUC