EU countries and lawmakers are set to debate a proposal on Thursday that would ban plant-based foods from using traditional meat labels like “sausage,” “burger,” and “steak.” The European Parliament backed this measure in October as part of efforts to protect farmers. Livestock groups say using meat terms for plant-based products confuses consumers and weakens the identity of meat. The proposal would bar 29 meat-related terms such as beef, ribs, bacon, and breast from vegetarian or plant-based product labels. This means everyday items like veggie burgers and plant-based sausages could face new limits. The draft defines meat strictly as the edible part of an animal, removing many words plant-based producers use. The European Commission said the aim is to improve consumer transparency and keep meat terms’ traditional meaning. However, the plan is still highly debated. It is now in trilogue talks where the European Commission, Parliament, and Council will try to reach a common decision. The final law could come by 2026, leaving the future of plant-based food names unclear. French industry group Interbev said such labeling “confuses consumers and undermines recognition” of meat products. French MP Céline Imart told AFP, “Let’s call a spade a spade.” But some EU countries oppose the ban and say more talks are needed. Major German retailers, consumer groups, and environmentalists also oppose the ban. They argue it would harm the growing plant-based food market. EU plant-based meat alternatives consumption has risen five times since 2011, BEUC data shows. Sir Paul McCartney joined critics urging Brussels to reject the measure. He said, “To stipulate that burgers and sausages are ‘plant-based,’ ‘vegetarian,’ or ‘vegan’ should be enough for sensible people to understand what they are eating.” McCartney and his daughters warned the new rules could slow progress on sustainable diets. The Parliament voted 355–247 in October to reserve terms like “steak,” “egg white,” and “escalope” for animal products. But the EU Commission and all 27 member states must approve it before it becomes law. This is not the EU’s first try. France passed a similar ban in 2024 to help farmers but it was overturned after an EU court ruling. A previous EU-wide proposal was rejected in 2020. Recent political shifts after the 2024 elections have strengthened farming allies, but some leaders say the labeling issue is “not a priority at all.”