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The words "sausage," "burger," or "minced meat" themselves have nothing to do with what they're made of. They refer only to shape and appearance. Why then is pork sausage, or chicken mince, or veal burger sold, while vegan burgers, sausages, or ground meat shouldn't be allowed? Are people so stupid that they can't read what's on the label?
Banning this is an absurd and ridiculous measure, unworthy of the EU and making it look ridiculous.

We don't want to do anything! We also have vegan burgers, plant-based burgers, and so on.

Bovendien zijn deze burgers veel beter voor het behoud vanze planeet, dan het lees van de dieren uit de bio industrie! Well, you've got two days, but it's almost all over again!!!

This makes no sense... Literally every person in the world knows the difference here! Go discuss the more pressing topics we're facing right know

I care about this issue because banning common terms like “burger” or “sausage” for plant-based foods makes no sense and does not benefit consumers. These words are already widely understood and no one is misled by them. Instead of protecting consumers, such a ban would create confusion and make it harder for people to identify the products they want to buy.

At a time when Europe is trying to promote more sustainable and climate-friendly food choices, restricting the language around plant-based alternatives sends the wrong signal. We should be encouraging innovation and supporting companies that offer environmentally friendly options, not placing unnecessary barriers in their way.

This proposal also limits consumer choice and slows down progress toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. I hope decision-makers will reject this unnecessary restriction and focus on policies that truly help consumers and support Europe’s climate goals.

I suggest to skip the word Hamburger because you can sel this item only in Hamburg

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It matters to me because:

• It’s patronizing

• It’s clear that the meat lobby is behind this which makes me question the integrity of the EU-MP’s and to what extent this can still be called democratic

• Will portrays vegans as "special" with their own food and names

• Will make it a bigger step for non-vegans to buy these products

• Clearly there’s nothing more urgent happening in the world today so they have to be bothered with this ‘important’ legislation

The issue of forcing plant-based food to change the names matters to me, because it's the answer to a problem that doesn't exist.

And more than that, it shows that there are people who are willing to sacrifice the future of all of us, only for their own gain.

Occasionally I eat meat. Which I enjoy, partly because I select this meat carefully: what do I know about the life these animals had and about whether or not they were taken well care of.

So, maintaining the simple words that are used already many years for plant-based alternatives to meat, is in no way attacking farmers which take care of their cattle and which take good care of them.

Maintaining these simple words simply is a matter of respect for each other, because keeping the existing situation doesn't hurt anyone, where changing the current situation is a serious set back for plant-based alternatives.

And what makes this all together so very stupid, is that the meat-industry will lose in the end anyway. So, this proposal serves no other purposes than to hurt.

Which makes sense in a  certain way: the people that are in favour are those which hurt animals the most ...

The terms "plant-based steak," "plant-based ham," or "plant-based sausage" allow those who wish to eat less meat or dairy products to maintain familiar reference points and habits. Eating less meat would also help reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions and thus bring us closer to our environmental commitments.

Banning these terms would hinder the development of plant-based alternatives, which are important at a time when doctors unanimously agree that Europeans eat too much meat for their health.

Furthermore, I don't believe this name is misleading, and to my knowledge, no independent study has revealed any confusion on the part of consumers.

Finally, it seems inconsistent to prohibit these names while retaining names like "head cheese" or others.

I think the wording is clear enough, and if the real goal is to ensure consumers are properly informed, requiring the word "plant-based" in sufficiently large print on the packaging would seem more appropriate. This would guarantee accurate information about the origin (plant-based) and maintain the indication of how to prepare it (a steak is cooked in a pan, whether it's made from animal or plant matter).

Thank you for your attention to my opinion.

I didnt stop eating meat because i didnt like it, i gave it up for ethical and environmental reasons.

So when i see a vegan burger, 'chicken' satay sticks or vegan roast I can enjoy the taste of some of my old favourites without the cruelty or devastating environmental effects.

Even if people don't care about animal welfare, everyone should worry about the state of the planet and endorce ways to get people to eat less meat.

It is pure selfishness to protect the meat industry!

Dear people,

Everyone should have the right to name their food however they want to.

It’s better to make it easier for everyone to support planted food instead of meat too much.

Thank you so much for speaking up. Plant-based food deserves to share the names that people are accustomed to just as much as animal products do, considering that, until now, there are no major reports on people mistakenly purchasing those products. Burger and sausage have never been required or mandated to contain meat until now; it is the meat industry trying to marginalize plant-based products! Not only does it make shopping as a vegan much more difficult, it makes it less appealing to non-vegans who want to make the switch or are simply trying to eat plant-based. One day, people would realize how much sense veganism makes and would have always been against animal exploitation and harming the environment.

Plenty of the meat substitutes are very realistic and you wouldn't be able to tell that they are not meat. However, terms like tube and disk will confuse people. There is absolutely nothing wrong with terms like sausage and burger. In fact, they encourage people to try more plant based products. Please don't ban these labels.

The EU can do better!

I’m writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed EU ban on using everyday terms like “burger” and “sausage” for plant-based products.

This issue matters to me because restricting these words would confuse consumers, limit free choice, and slow down the shift toward more sustainable diets. Clear labelling already exists, and people are not misled by terms like “veggie burger” or “vegan sausage” — these products have been part of the market for years without causing confusion.

At a time when we urgently need to support climate-friendly food systems, this proposal feels like an unnecessary barrier that protects a single industry rather than the public interest. It risks harming a fast-growing plant-based sector that offers healthier, more environmentally responsible options.

I urge decision-makers to reject this ban and support a future where sustainable food choices are easy, accessible, and fairly represented.

Thank you for gathering our voices.

I care about this issue, because I care about supporting vegetarian and vegan alternatives to meat to make a kinder, healther world for people & animals. I also care about fair policy-making and I believe there is an agro lobby behind this that only supports the rich. The European Commission & Parliament should not be influenced by this.

This labeling law needs to be rejected. The labeling has been in place for years without any noteable consumer confusion. This law is clearly meant to appease the meat industry, and is sending a harmful signal to the EU citizens and companies that do invest to improve our future: that Brussels values the financial interests of established industries and their lobbyists over the wellbeing of their citizens. Please vote to reject the law.

I really don´t understand why meat eaters get so angry about what we name the food that we eat. It´s not like they are lured in to getting the vegan choice when shopping.

Keep up the good work

I was surprised to hear the message that there may be a ban on veggieburger and vegetarian chicken pieces. It is abundantly clear to everyone that it is a vegetarian variant. The frame that it is supposed to be about consumer protection is really laughable. The packaging clearly states what it is about, only people who are interested will buy this. If there are real concerns about the consumer, let it go to the impact of the (meat) industry on our health and the living environment. This is at the expense of our air, the earth and our precious drinking water. And I'm not even talking about all the animal suffering.

And if it is chosen, let's extend it right away:

Milk = breastfeeding

Hooked = painted round

Sausage = ground pork in a piece of intestine

And another question, are we going to rap candy manufacturer Katja on the knuckles right away? Because there appear to be no monkeys at all in 'monkey heads'! And the 'bananas' from Haribo turn out not to contain a banana at all, but an infusion of pork bones.

Shame when you allow yourself to be played by an industry that enriches itself with animal suffering and in the long run also with human suffering. I am not necessarily against eating meat, but I am against the way in which the industry behaves and relates to our living environment. Less meat can't hurt, in fact, we will all benefit from it.

Vote wisely, with mind and your heart. And for your grandchildren.

This isn't about you. This is about your children, your grandchildren.

The "veggie burger" ban will very likely lead to fewer plant-based alternatives being purchased.

And there's no doubt that these perform significantly better compared to meat.

As an economist, I therefore appeal to you:

Act in the best interests of your children and your future grandchildren, so that they can have a future as free from worry as possible.

Sausage and steak and ball (pulla in Finnish) are forms of food in Finnish. Their content has always been anything. We have always talked about vegetable patties, for example. When the ball has contained something other than meat, it is also said "fish bun", for example. And even a "bun" containing meat has always been referred to as a meatball. So why not have a veggie bun?

I am writing to express my strong concern regarding any proposal to restrict the use of common food terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” or “steak” for plant-based products. I believe these restrictions would be unnecessary, confusing for consumers, and counterproductive to Europe’s food, health, and sustainability goals.

1. Consumers are not confused by these terms

Plant-based burgers and sausages have been on the market for years, and consumers clearly understand what they are buying. The labels already specify “plant-based,” “vegan,” or “vegetarian,” and the context is always explicit. There is no evidence of large-scale consumer confusion that would justify regulation of this kind.

2. These names describe format, not origin

Terms like “burger” or “sausage” describe shape, culinary use, and preparation method, not necessarily animal content.

We already accept:

• Peanut butter

• Buffalo wings

• Dragon fruit

• Blood orange

• Hot dogs

• Chicken fingers

• Coconut milk

• Gingerbread man (no man involved)

• No one is confused by these items. Preventing plant-based companies from using these common terms would be inconsistent with how language naturally works in food culture.

3. Restricting language harms innovation and consumer choice

Plant-based foods are a growing sector responding to consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable options. Limiting the terminology would create unnecessary barriers for a fast-developing, job-creating sector and make it harder for consumers to find alternatives that fit their dietary, environmental, or ethical preferences.

4. The proposal protects no one—except perhaps specific industries

Livestock and dairy lobby groups may benefit from limiting the appeal or accessibility of plant-based foods. However, policy should serve the public interest, not create artificial obstacles for emerging competitors in a free market.

5. Europe should support sustainable food transitions, not hinder them

The EU has clear climate, public-health, and environmental goals. Plant-based diets are widely recognized as beneficial in all three areas. Restricting plant-based labeling would send the wrong signal at a time when we should be encouraging people to make climate-friendly food choices, not making these products harder to market or understand.

6. The ban is impractical and would create more confusion

If terms like “burger” or “sausage” are banned, companies will have to invent awkward, unfamiliar names (e.g., “plant discs,” “protein tubes”), which will confuse consumers far more than current labeling does.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose any legislation restricting the use of common culinary terms for plant-based products. Clear, honest labeling already exists; further restrictions would only limit consumer choice, harm innovation, and slow Europe’s progress toward its sustainability commitments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The names of food products refer often to concept, shape and size rather than origin.

Burger is now taken as a concept  - a bun with something in it, usually round, plus sauce and maybe salad. - usually with a descriptor in front: Beef burger, hamburger, vege burger, haloumi burger, black bean burger are all names commonly used, .

Sausage -is often used to describe a shape (a long tube) rather than a meat product. sausage dog is the origin of the name hot dog, for example.

This change is totally unnecessary.

There is no confusion or any complaints with the current situation. Everyone knows what for example burger and veggie burgers are - there is no room for confusion at the moment.

This change is 100% from some active lobbyists, not from ordinary people, not from grocery stores, not from restaurants.

Decision makers should use their time for much more important topics and just ignore this law proposal.

I am writing to urge you to oppose the European Parliament amendment adopted on 8 October 2025 that would prohibit plant-based foods from using familiar culinary terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” or “steak.” Although the proposal is not yet final, it would be a disproportionate and internally inconsistent change to EU food law.

A key problem is the intrinsic conflict in how “burger” is already used. In everyday language and in market practice, “burger” describes a format: a patty shaped, cooked, and eaten in a familiar way. It is not a guarantee of 100 percent beef or even 100 percent meat. Meat burgers routinely contain non-meat ingredients such as binders, spices, water, starches, and fillers, sometimes in substantial proportions, while still being sold as burgers. If the word “burger” were to be reserved for pure animal meat, where would the limit be set? At 95 percent beef? 70 percent? 50 percent? There is no coherent threshold that matches either consumer understanding or existing practice across Member States.

That is exactly why qualifiers matter. “Beef burger” signals a predominantly beef product; “plant-based burger” signals a non-meat product in burger format. Both are clear, familiar, and non-misleading. The proposed ban targets the format word while leaving the real driver of clarity untouched: the qualifier and ingredient disclosure.

Consumers are not confused by qualified terms like “plant-based burger.” They are far more likely to be confused by forced, unfamiliar names that hide the product’s intended use. This amendment would also fragment the internal market, impose needless relabeling costs in 24 languages, and burden small producers and retailers without delivering any consumer protection benefit.

Finally, this restriction runs against Europe’s climate and health ambitions. The EU supports innovation and dietary diversification. Making plant-based options harder to identify on shelves discourages consumer choice and slows a sector that complements, rather than undermines, European agriculture.

If clarity is the concern, strict enforcement of prominent qualifiers and transparent ingredient lists is the sensible path. A semantic ban is not.

The idea that the term 'veggie sausage', 'vegan nugget' or similar terms is confusing to consumers and the general public is one of the laziest arguments i have heard in any context in a long time. Considering the levels of literacy in the EU and Europe as a whole, and the access to information that the populations have, it is like the meat lobby is not even trying to hide their intentions. But then again, why woukd they? Its about money, not animal welfare or the general health of the people.

It's crazy that Brussels is wasting time and energy on this at all. People can still read the word plant-based or vegetarian. I think it is a total underestimation of the consumer. ON to a plant-based and animal-worthy future!!!!!

Really it's ridiculous to think that anyone can confuse real meat with plant based alternative. This really feels like it's something else bothering people who want to ban calling veggie burger, a burger. People need more healty options in their markets, plant based food is one of them

Don't our MEPs have better things to do than to ban perfectly legitimate words from being used by plant-based alternatives? Especially in an ecological and justice context where it is more than urgent to plant-based our food and where, precisely, our elected officials should encourage this transition!!!

Please let’s stop this madness - the proposal is adding confusion where there is none.

A burger and sausage is the form, the packaging, not the content. Everyone knows what they are getting. And the worst they can get is food grown by - typically - European farmers.

Let’s not rethink artificial names or do new packaging.

We should also remember that Europe has many languages, and the words are made up differently. This nonsense artificial rule would lead to also meat products not having names that match their content.

The banning on vegan burger is hurting people who are promoting a more sustainable diet.

Vegan burgers cause no confusion to the customers and are helping the dietary shift go with less friction and pressure.

The ban of vegan burger will only benefit meat producers, who should seriously consider their ecological outcomes.

As for small-holders/farmers, vegan burgers were never a threat.

Many researchers have shown that when facing social changes, most people are supportive but they stay silent. The majority of society has no problem with vegan products.

To end the climate crisis, all sections should work together and create a more inclusive environment. Banning name tags is not the helpful move. Please seriously consider it.

A big part of my commitment to help animals and the planet is the ease to which vegan burgers and sausages help me transition to such a diet. Surely, people know there is no beef in beef heart tomatoes, no dog in hot dogs, no cherry in cherry tomatoes.

No one, absolutely no one, mistakes the word 'Vegetarian chicken pieces'. We don't expect bloodshot red fruit with beef tomatoes, do we? Or that Appelsientje contains more pulp? No, it is purely to undermine the marketing of meat alternatives. While we all know that we should eat less meat for our own health, that of the animals and the world. Go do something meaningful with your time! There are plenty of real problems! The fact that the EU is going after this proves once again how big and strong the meat lobby is.

I am utterly amazed that this legislation is even considered being passed.

I have never heard of anyone getting confused over plant-based products, or buy them instead of meat-based once.

Have the following facts been taken into account:

The amount of logo’s and extra information on plant-based products

That the location of plant-based products in any store is a designated area for vegetarian and vegan alternatives

The displays of meat-products and plant-based products are always clearly indicated in every store

Terms such as ‘sausage’, ‘burger’, ‘roll’, ‘schnitzel’…etc are merely indicators of the shape and/or preparation of the product, and do not say anything about the contents of it

Last but not least: Consumers are not stupid!

I am really shocked by this situation: the term is still adapted to its plant meaning!

How can you be so "foolish" as to pretend that there can only be the meaning "carnivore"?

I, who don't care at all about eating vegan and / or vegetarian foods that remind me of carnivorous counterparts -I feel nausea at the smell that reminds me of them-, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S UNREAL IN LENTIL MEATBALLS!! And in VEGETABLE MILK? And in CHOCOLATE SAMI?? :-)

They are fools, and that's it, I'll stop here...

Consumers are not confused at al by the wordings of burger or sausage for products made of or containing alternative proteins. Consumers will be consumed by all the fantasy names that now have to be given to meat analogues.

The proposed inhibits innovation and hinders young companies that the EU has supported financially and with research in Horizon Europe to develop their business. The alternative protein sector could strongly contribute to the competitiveness of the EU economy when it gets the right backing from the EU.

I want to choose to not kill my planet and animals who live on.

It matters to me, because with clear labelling my shopping is easier and faster, and time is money these days.

I honestly doubt that anyone is going to buy a vegan burger, bacon or sausage by mistake.

So the planned ban is nothing else that harassment and bowing to the meat industry.

Let us vegans eat our vegan burger, while the rest can have the traditional one.

I’ve never met anyone who mistakes a veggie burger for meat. I've never even heard of it. We all know how to read a label. Please stop trying to fix a problem that isn’t there and focus on real issues.

Please stop the ban on Veggy burgers.

I can't believe that the EU parlement will decide on banning any reference to the meat vegetarian alternatives can replace.

Transforming towards an ecological balanced lifestyle is more urgent than ever.

The small contribution vegetarian alternatives can make for those who still want to eat meat and are willing to try alternatives is important!

Please invest in a durable protein world in which vegetarian alternatives are promoted, not banned.

Please help us step by step to change towards an ecological just and balanced world.

It seems as if this world and we humans don't  have other problems!

And it seems as if governments think we are so stupid to not know the difference.  We are grown up and have an own opinion. We are smart enough to understand the difference!!

It would be much more important to spend the time for better animal life protecting laws!

We are plant-based for ALL reasons - I’m a member of Plant-based Health Professionals.

The idea of dropping the words you mention in your email sounds both petty and ridiculous.

I would love to please all of you to not change the names of products. For example burger or hot dog is not fixed name for the ingredients, but for the shape. Producers don't name burger like a mixture of body parts from neglected animals that were not allowed to move and live naturally, they name it better, so people don't feel so bad. By giving a chance to sell cruelty-free burgers/hot dogs, you give people the chance to choose what ingredience they want to put in their body.

The name sausage or burger is just the shape it has, not about what’s inside.      To me.

- It is important to see the difference on the wrapper, clear enough, that it contains meat or is plant-based.

I really hope the veggie lobby wins this battle.

This matters to me because:

1) it makes it harder for people who want to try vegetarian food to understand what to buy and how to use it

2) climate change is going to impact Europe immensely. Most of the actions lie with the government and businesses, but one of the things that consumers can do is eat less meat. Don't make that harder.

3) Solving these kinds of non-sensical issues contributes to the lack of trust people have in the government. Don't waste our time and money. Focus on problems people actually have.

Dear ministers of agriculture

Don't be afraid of the future.

Please show political courage above comfort and/or ancient times/traditions.

The meat industry does not only kill/exploit/enslave animals. It does also that to our planet and us the people.

This ban is a sign of fear and misuse of power.

Choose the honest side please.

Everyone who votes for this change is making one thing clear - meat industry lobbying money matters more to you than the greater good and the health of this planet and its people.

I've talked about this with colleagues, friends and family and every single person, including those who are not pro veggie / vegan agree that this is clear and pure meat industry lobbying and very minute that a politician or any other government employee is paid to work on this change is wasted time and taxpayer money in times when everyone is looking at budget deficits and understaffing issues.

There is only one way to call this: corruption in broad daylight.

This issue matters to me because I care about animals, and factory farming is extraordinarily cruel and causes immense amounts of suffering. Banning certain words would make unfairly difficult to sell vegan alternatives to animal products. As if the state subsidies to the meat and dairy industry didn't make it already unfair and difficult enough for vegan products to succeed.

it matters to me because the plant-based products are a better option for the environment and usually for the health of the person eating them as well - they shouldn't be treated as something shady and lesser. renaming them would make the potential buyers confused and possibly anxious about whether they're really buying what they want to be buying.

It's just too silly we're not allowed to use those words again. Everyone knows a veggie burger is not made from meat.

It is obvious that a "veggie" burger or a "veggie" sausage is veggie and only someone of ill will can find these names confusing. Now that so many, including governments, want to promote the necessary protein transition by switching to plant-based alternatives, this plan seems to be a dogged rearguard action by the still very strong meat lobby.

The proposal to ban these names for plant based foods is ridiculous to me, and, as has been proven by numerous studies, only helps to confuse consumers.

Clearly these names are not linked to a specific dead animal based product, since stores have had chicken burgers, beef burgers, etc, and no one ever complained, since it is clear what they are (if we ignore the chemicals of course). I have yet to meet the person that bought a veggie burger (or sausage, mince or whatever) accidentally, while meaning to buy meat.

If, for whatever reason, someone still made this mistake, they would have a day with less meat. Something that also been proven to be beneficial by numerous studies. The consumer would benefit, the animals would benefit, the planet would benefit. Only the meat industry loses (another win in my eyes).

It's an absolutely absurd case where it's just words, the EU should solve really important things and not be subject to the lobby of the meat, agro- or other industries like they did when they allowed glyphosate for the next 10 years... People are not stupid to confuse meat with a vegan alternative.

I’m writing from the Netherlands, and I want to express my concern about the proposed restrictions on plant-based food labelling.

Clear, familiar terms like “veggie burger” or “vegan sausage” help consumers understand what they are buying. Restricting these names does not protect anyone, it only creates confusion and makes sustainable options less accessible. A recent segment by Dutch presenter Arjen Lubach illustrated how absurd this could become: “vegetarian sausage” turning into “vegetarian tube”, “vegan schnitzel” into “vegan slab”, and “veggie burger” into something as meaningless as a “veggie disc”. No consumer benefits from this.

What makes the proposal even more puzzling is that we already use countless similar names in everyday products without any confusion at all. We have peanut butter, almond milk, coconut water, and even meat-free “meatballs” or “fish sticks” made from fish substitutes. Nobody believes peanut butter contains butter, or that coconut water comes from a tap. Consumers instinctively understand these terms because they describe form, flavour, or usage, not the biological origin of the ingredient. There is no reason why plant-based alternatives should suddenly be treated differently.

At a time when we urgently need to reduce our environmental footprint, we should be encouraging innovation in plant-based food, not limiting it. This proposal serves the interests of the meat lobby, not citizens. It risks slowing down a growing sector that is essential for climate goals, public health and consumer choice.

I hope the ministers will reject or fundamentally amend this ban.

I think this new law is undesirable, because it (1) does not solve a problem (no one is confused!), (2) is expected to be applied unevenly (fish-burgers never had a problem with anyone), (3) claims words like burger, sausage and nuggets exclusively for meat - they describe a form, of meat, fish or vegetables.

Furthermore, other names such as vegetable slices or vegetable pieces sound more unappetizing and unclear than veggie burger or veggie chicken pieces. With the new words, I don't know as well what I'm buying!

These objections make this law look more like meat protectionism than concerns about the consumer.

The energy transition is going quite well, but the food transition has little progress yet. Alternatives to meat are crucial in this. And that means that it must become more and more normal to buy meat substitutes. But then you have to be able to see what is being replaced.

I don't know where to start. The fact that they loose their time on such a useless matter is sad and worrying. The meat lobby is so obviously scared and their battle is pretty shameful. So if I get it right, they think an omnivore consumer could be so mentally retarded (with all due respect) that the could confuse a plant based sausage for a normal corpse based one? By buying alternatives form producers whit clear references on plants on their brand like "planted" or "no meat"?!? The idiocy of this law is only a prove that consuming animal products is cause of serious neurological damage.

I think it is a very bad plan to only be allowed to use the words burger and chicken or sausage for meat dishes.

The citizens from the EU really know the difference between meat burgers, chicken or sausage and vegan burgers, chicken or sausage products.

It is really another game of the meat industry to protect their products under the guise of confusing the citizens of others, they certainly think that we are very stupid and need to be protected from ourselves.

Laren we all rebel against this and make sure that we make it clear that we can decide for ourselves what we choose and not that the meat industry does it for us.

I find it absurd that it is forbidden to call burgers or sausages or nuggets vegetable products just because they think that the consumer is so stupid that he does not understand that they are not products containing meat.

The consumer is much smarter and better prepared than our politicians are.

If you put the word "vegetable" next to the word "burger" it is very clear that these are not meat products.

Our politicians must listen to the demands of consumers who want to make more sustainable food choices, rather than pandering to meat lobbies who think only of their economic interests and not of sustainability.

It's really ridiculous! Don't they have anything more important to do here in Europe? How stupid do they think we are! And if someone accidentally buys a veggie burger in a hurry, the world won't end!!! All the effort really isn't worth it! Or are the meat companies so afraid that everyone will switch to veggie because it tastes good? That would be ok then!!!

A plant-based diet is delicious, healthy and a great way to combat climate change. The meat industry is wasting natural resources at a monumental scale. That has to change.

Veggie burgers / sausages nuggets and what not are tasty and nutricious replacements for their meat equivalent, easing the transition for meat eaters. So I call out to the EU to choose a healthy planet and healthy citizens over the profits of the meat industry.

I am a vegan who often struggles with finding easy ways to replace meat and dairy. I think no one will be strongly affected by this law, accept the people who will feel negative consequences.

Are you serious? Do we really have no other problems? Put more plants on your plates and leave the animals alone! So easy! So effective! For our planet, for the health of people and animals: No matter what we want to call the food, the main thing is that it is completely plant-based. Stop wasting our time with your ridiculous discussions! We're out of time! We only have this planet!

Familiar words like “burger” and “sausage” can improve consumers’ understanding of how to prepare these novel products and help them shift their consumption towards more sustainable options. Change happens at the margin, and consumption choices are, more often than not, shaped by familiarity with product types and forms. Thus, if more sustainable options are presented in familiar product forms, this can help consumers adopt these products, given that they already know how to prepare and consume them.

Don’t give in to the meat lobby trying to make it even harder for plant-based products to compete. Coconut milk has been around for decades, and consumers are well aware of its difference to cow’s milk. Trust that consumers can tell the difference.

Gold nuggets never argued with chicken nuggets, and the Milky Way never argued with coconut milk. This ridiculous attempt by the flesh lobby to suppress plant based ambitions is ridiculous and beyond stupid. Hope we succeed in Brussels.

And i'd like to save these vegetarian option-namings, as they are not confusing at all: people are smarter than you assume.

Plus it shows what the purpose is of a plant-based disc: helping people to choose the more sustainable (for both our planet and all the animals) option.

Hence you support the global climate crises.

And finally, you cannot let the meat-lobby win. Animals are suffering, living in fear and pain every day, in sickening circumstances, whilst being tortured and overloaded with meds and antibiotics, just for a few bites per meal?

The land, water and food usage to sustain this is unbelievable and very unsustainable, not to mention the cruelty involved.

Stop this madness right now and vote with your heart and consciousness, coming home and telling your family and loved ones that you've finally made the difference, that you supported a better life for all living beings in this planet.

It is now well established by the scientific community that a shift from meat-centered diets to vegetable-based diets would benefit the public health of our European citizens.

Clear communication to and product awareness of the consumers play a critical role in such transitions.

One crucial factor in helping consumers transition from meat products to vegetarian alternatives, is a clear understanding of which product they can use as a replacement.

For this purpose, the use of product-style names like "sausage" or "burger" elicits clear expectations to the consumer: e.g. a vegetable burger can replace a meat burger when making hamburgers.

A commonly heard counterargument, is that such names confuse consumers who want to purchase meat-based products, however these claims have been refuted by scientific research conducted by the European Consumer Organisation.

The contempt for the citizen is incredibly shocking, the citizen is not retarded, the citizen knows the difference between vegan and animal products. Where there is a lack of clarity in foodstuffs (ingredients or origin), Brussels does not care. The influence of Big Agro testifies to mafia practices and that of our tax money. Wronger than wrong = EU Brussels

I have been a vegetarian for a few years, like my wife.

I am totally against intensive farming as it is among the most important causes of pollution of nature and causes terrible suffering to animals, through no fault of their own, and all for the profit of a few.

So the return to a non-animal, vegetable or vegan diet is nice. It is a false problem that of the terminology to be used for plant foods.

We must save the planet before it is too late!

Cordially.

A ban on “meat terms” for veggie products is unnecessary, inconsistent and the(!) negative example of misguided European policy (and I say that as a convinced European). A confusion of terms is not a valid argument, the word origin of the vast majority of terms is not related to meat anyway and is now used in a different context (pea sausage, almond milk, peanut butter, etc.). It consistently appears to be the meat lobby's influence on the EU.

Never heard anyone (except meat industrials) complain about such names which are rather helpful when one is looking to vegetalize his regime without taking cooking lessons and starting from scratch ! Trying to block useful tools to improve public health and environmental impacts seems silly, to say the least…

Dear ministers,

there is no meat-eating citizen that will unadvertently buy vegetarian meat because of a confusion though product naming.

First of all, Trying to force naming is like treating the meat eating population like idiots  Yet, regardless if being vegetarian or meat eaters, people are not.

Most of us are quite adeot to doing groceries. People choose deliberately what they take home from the supermarket.

From their upbringing, culture and own lives, consumers are experienced buyers, foen even operating on habit:

they know what they are looking for and are aware of what they are taking off the shelves.

This even excludes the group of meat eating citizens that buy their meat from a butcher, which is to date 100% animal meat based, so confusion free guaranteed.

Second, the supermarkets have organised their shelves in such a way that animal meat and plant based alternatives are not mixed, but in separate areas.

In countries where animal meat is very popular, it is even very difficult to even find alternatives,

let alone mistakenly take home a vegetarian alternative instead of animal meat.

And finally, what if?

What if, in the edge case where a person intending to buy meat happens to find themselves

in a supermarket they have never been before, looking at products they have never seen before,

of which they don't read the labels, and of which the rest of the shelf seems unclear on its protein origin,

what if they bring that home instead? They try it and like it? What if...

So let's not treat people like idiots, and for you: don't let the meat lobby treat you as an idioy. You''re smarter then they give you credit for.

Is the name this relevant? It mostly shows how childish the opponent is.

I still love my veggie burger, or veggie slice/the alternative/the other choice/fancy slice/fancy dish,  no matter the name.

please stop this absurd discussion about the correct nomination of plant-based alternatives.  We - veggies - have no problem with it.

Today, there are more urgent problems to deal with on our planet !

From a worried "burger"

Why this issue matters to me:

- it may help people to transition to vegan easier if they have familiar terms like sausage, etc.

- some people may accidentally try vegan stuff like this and realize that they dont have to kill.

- we want to use any vocabulary we want, freedom of speech

- people are used to calling vegan meat by the terms used in meat industry. Why does a term sausage have to mean specifically meat? If you beat and compile lentils and veggies to make a chop/ball, why would you need to refrain from calling it a chop/ball?

- if it doesn't hurt anyone to keep these terms, why prohibit it? It seems like meat lobbies have an agenda with this.

- since when terms like sausage became "patent " to only meat? Meaning of "sausage":The word "sausage" comes from the Latin "salsus" (salted). The word "salami" is also derived from this root, from the Italian "salare" (to salt). Thus, any food that is salted (and preserved) can be called a sausage, right?

Why this matters to me?

It's ridiculous, a total non-issue.

I wish lawmakers would focus their attention to actual problems.

Nobody alive has EVER mistaken a veggie burger for a meat burger.

What does happen is that people accidentally eat food with meat that they did not want to eat, due to inefficient labelling and viewing the meat-based option as 'normal'.

Protect your citizens and ban unhealthy foods. Both for the population and for the planet.

We need a sustainable future for agriculture and food production, and we cannot wait any longer.

Banning 'veggie' options is bowing down to an old-fashioned lobby whose business has not been future-proof for decades, now, and does not solve any problem.

Yes, indeed the EP plan to ban "burger", "sausage" and the like fom plant-based alternatives is absurd, ridiculous and insane.

This is a complete waste of taxpayers money and undermining trust and belief in the usefulness of democratic institutions, starting with the EP. Obviously, the interests of the EP are rather serving the vet farmers than the European citizens. If those members of EP really believe that EU citizens are completely stupid and not able to distinct meat-based buregrs from plant-based burgers, then they should be sent home right away. In the way they act now, they put all trustworthyness of EU-institutions at stake.

So, thank you, Rob & Team, fo acting upon this lunacy! And yes, PLEASE make clear that it is not the vet industry to steer through legislation the consumers choice for what they want to consume and how they can make their decisions. And PLEASE urge the politicians to look at real problems instead of serving industry interests.

Familiar names like “veggie sausage” help consumers understand what the product is and support the shift to plant-based diets. In reality, the risk of confusion is minimal: vegan products are clearly labeled, often have their own section in supermarkets, and if someone tries a plant-based product by mistake, they might simply taste something new or give it to someone else.

I also believe that plant-based diets should be encouraged by the EU for their health benefits. While I am not referring to processed convenience products, promoting a societal approach to healthier eating—including clearly labeled vegan options—is in the public interest.

Banning simple, descriptive words like “sausage” would mainly benefit the meat industry and could slow the growth of an environmentally and health-conscious sector. I urge you to consider the interests of consumers, public health, and the planet, and to allow plant-based products to keep their widely understood names.

language control is mind control, as Goerge Orwell has shown in his dystopian novel 1984. Politicians calling for informed consumers on the one hand cannot ban perfectly normal words like "sausage" on the other hand. It stinks of lobbyism by some panicking meat industry lobbyists. Sausage always was a description of a FORM and not a content, encompassing meat, chocolate and pea soup concentrate in Austria, where I come from, I am concerend about language control. I also think that the issue is blown up as a smokescreen so that politicians are busy with something minor rather than with mitigating the climate crisis. I am deeply disappointed in the EU commission right now. This is not the way to create support for the EU!

Words like makkara and pihvi are related to the shape of the product, not the meat content. We have been using these words forever for non-meat products as well (juurespihvi, silakkapihvi) and calling things vege-nakki is no different.

However, making up new non-food-related words (like "disc") does not make sense, and they would definitely diminish the attractiveness of the product. And we need more vege-options and vegetarians!

If regulation is needed, I vote for adding "meat" to the products to make it clear. Meat-sausage, or cow burger are fine with me along with veggie-sausage and veggie burger.

Hope this helps,

The words that the EU now wants to ban for plant-based food are not at all exclusive to meat products.

For example, the word "minced meat" refers to an operation: minced meat. But in the supermarket, for example, frozen cubes of chopped spinach are also for sale. Is that no longer allowed. The word "citizen" stands for a form. To give the consumer clarity about what the burger is made of, a prefix is added, for example lamb burger, beef burger, chicken burger or lentil burger. This is perfectly clear.

Sellers of vegetarian products will also do everything they can to make it clear on the packaging that their product is meatless. After all, this is their "reason for being": they do NOT want to sell meat, but a tasty and healthy alternative that is comparable to meat in terms of nutritional value (especially proteins). Usually this is clearly stated on the packaging 2, 3 or even 4 times. By making references to meat alternatives, it becomes much clearer to consumers what they can expect in terms of taste and texture. "Veggie bacon" is crunchy and savory. "Vegetarian sausages" are elongated and have a loose, savory filling. In the context of the protein transition, which the EU also claims to promote, it is important that consumers can easily choose alternatives to meat.

After all, consumers have long been used to cross-over designations being used for animal and plant products. We know the slavink in the Netherlands, which has nothing to do with lettuce or birds. We have meatloaf and beefsteak tomatoes. Carpaccio is originally a beef dish, now you can get carpaccio of beetroot or celeriac everywhere in restaurants.

In my view, what leads to much more uncertainty for consumers is the emergence of mixed products: some meat and some plant-based. This is sometimes offered as a healthier variant of meat with less fat. In practice, the container contains 50-70% minced meat and 50-30% vegetable product.

I think the ban is absurd, and a blatant case of how lobbyism affects politics. We have had words like "coconut milk" or "peanut butter" before, and there is no concern that anyone would mistake those products for animal products. In my view, words like "sausage" or "burger" are convenient to describe the shape and intended use of plant-based products and banning them only serves to make it harder for companies to market plant-based products and insulate the animal industry from competition. This in a time where numerous reports like the recently released EAT-Lancet report has recommended meat reduction, and it is well-established that plant-based products have significantly lower climate impacts and land requirements than their animal-based counterparts. This alone makes the case for why this policy is against the best interest of citizens of EU as well as the rest of the world. Never mind that there is a good chance that one day future generations will look back at humanity today and ask incredulously "How could they continue to slaughter sentient beings on an industrial scale just for the sake of their habits, traditions or taste-pleasure?". In conclusion, I think it would be a shameful thing if this proposal goes through, and that the politicians and lobbyists behind it are squarely on the wrong side of history.

I have been working for 20+ years, in the plantbased dairy market ( Alpro & Provamel ) , under the legal council a.o. of Danone , and never , ever, there was a consumer complaint about our drinks, yoghurt alt’s being misleading. After selling 100 millions of brick & cups, I am 100% sure “people can tell the difference, its not the real animal reference.

Giving people an idea about the application via the name : burger, steak, milk, yoghurt, dessert helps people to navigate, and make the choice that is nicer to animals, healthy & fibrous, and planet / emission friendly.

Why do we waste time on such a ban? Everybody knows what a veggie burger or a veggie sausage is. Don’t create a problem where there is none. The problem are people who continue to eat meat, not people who want to buy veggie alternatives. Please stop this nonsense.

Claiming consumers are confused by plant-based names is just an excuse to slow down the meat-reduction movement. It's a transparent capitulation to powerful industry lobbyists.

Nobody is confused by 'peanut butter' or 'coconut milk.' These terms are vital because they tell us how to cook and use a product. Removing those words from packages would only confuse people who would just keep using them when talking about the food, because it's just what they are : soy sausages, almond milk, ...

If we really want to talk about misleading labels, we should ban branding products as generic 'Veggie' when they contain eggs or cheese. That is actual deception, and for people with intolerances, it’s a genuine health risk.

Fight for the people, for a changing and better world, not against us or against new things. Please think about the climate. We do not deserve or need that kind of self-harming laws.

Creating a ban on terms that are clear for everyone and has been proven to be no source of confusion, is just making the transition of the food system to something more resilient, kind and sustainable slower. This is a shame

1. Consumers are not confused — the packaging literally screams “VEGAN” or “PLANT-BASED”.

Let’s be honest: shoppers today are confronted with giant green labels, leaves everywhere, “plant-based” in font size 200, little vegan logos, and sometimes even a cartoon pea flexing its muscles. If someone still believes a vegan sausage has a pig in it, that person probably shouldn’t be unsupervised in a supermarket in the first place.

It’s comparable to banning the word “cupcake” unless it’s served in an actual cup. It solves a problem no one has, while creating new problems everyone notices.

2. There are far less obvious food names that cause zero confusion.

We are all totally fine with:

• “Fish fingers” even though fish don’t have hands.

• “Hot dogs” and not a single person has ever called animal welfare because of the name.

• “Gingerbread men” despite no one believing there’s an actual tiny edible gentleman involved.

If we can cope with those, surely we can handle a plant-based patty being called a “burger”. The human brain is actually quite good at context — and the label tells you exactly what you’re buying.

3. If we’re serious about encouraging plant-based diets, the bare minimum is not tying the shoelaces of companies doing the work.

Governments and NGOs keep telling us we need to shift to more sustainable food systems. Great! Many companies are trying. They’re innovating, they’re reducing emissions, they’re creating tasty alternatives.

So what’s the logic of making their life harder by forcing them to change the name of their products.

I as consumer have the right to know for what type of dish a vegetarian alternative was created. I want to know this and don't want anyone to tell me that I am not intelligent enough to distinguish a meat schnitzel from a tofu schnitzel.

Do they really think I am stupid?

In my language there are a lot of words for food that suggest something else.

Blinde Vink, Slavink, Koninginnesoep, kinderijsje, zomerkoninkje, chocoprince, madelaine.

Meat , ice-cream, soup, strawberries, cookies.

I don't need Europe to protect me against funny names, I need protection against hormones in meat. I need protection against huge concentrations of animals, causing serious diseases.

It is not serious to ban "vegokorv" (vegan sausage) or "vegoburgare" (vegan burger) since the name doesn’t say anything about the actual content. You’d have to be stupid to mistake it for the wrong product.

It's so stupid, as if consumers are not aware of what they are buying...

Moreover, if words are so important for the meat lobbies,

Let us return to the primary meaning of this word which means all food,

"From the Latin vivenda became in late Latin vivanda, a neuter adjective form of the verb vivere ("to live") meaning "that which serves life". The word was originally applied to all kinds of food and gradually became specialized to refer today only to certain meat foods." ...

It’s a disaster for me because we’re going backwards with this and not forward. Eating less animal-based products helps the environment and saves lives and it shouldn’t be made more complicated than it is. No one is confused when buying Veggie Nuggets, even my 65 years old dad or my grandmother knows what they get and the love it!

It is too ridiculous for words that the meat lobby can exercise so much power. People are not stupid, they understand very well the difference between meat and a meat substitute. It is completely spread out from each other on the shelves, you cannot accidentally buy a meat substitute!!! Canned vegetable soup is much more confusing, because it always contains meat. Beef tomatoes have no meat, a slave finch and blind finch are not birds and I could go on and on. Stop the sick promotion of animal exploitation and destroying the planet!!!!!

The meat lobbyists have gone too far and a free market economy cannot work like this. At the climate meetings, we have noticed that our climate measures are insufficient and that the tipping points have already been exceeded. We need to focus together on saving our world, and not fight over what words we get to use about food. In Finland, the development of vegetable products has been very successful, and this should not be complicated by pointless bans on terms. We should all choose even more plant-based food so that we can survive the climate change disaster together. Many words connected to food (meat and milk) can also be found elsewhere, for example in cosmetics. If the line is only drawn to meat-free products, it's about the greed of meat eaters and meat businesses, and you'd think we people know from history what greed follows. We have also lived in Milan, Italy, where compared to Finland, the number of vegetarian options was minimal. I don't even want to imagine what this new miserable "reform" would do to even a small amount of vegetable products. Eating meat is not the only part of human nature. Meat consumption in Finland has grown almost exponentially compared to the 1980s. Eating meat is no longer in any way justified and sustainable in modern times. The EU's decision-making bodies must not hinder the transition towards a more sustainable and plant-based future!!

This ban does nothing for consumers — it only shields the meat lobby. I’m tired of seeing innovation punished while sustainability gets sidelined. We all know what a ‘veggie burger’ is. Don’t insult our intelligence — protect choice, not outdated interests.

the ban has absolutely no logical sense at all, not to mention is against promoting health, well-being, enviromental/climate policy and sustainability.

I think this is a crazy proposition. It will make my life as a consumer very confusing. I like to eat vegetarian variants of meat products - like burgers, sausages, chicken nuggets. So how am I supposed to recognize these in the store in the future?

It makes me very angry that the meat sector has such influence and comes up with a crazy ideas like this, hindering consumers and hindering innovation.

It does not make sense. I mean, on the package it is also mentioned that a sausage is made of beef or pork or chicken, so why not add the 'plant based' variety to that?

By the way, does the meat sector have a patent on names like burgers etc. I think not.

Totally crazy that the parliament agreed with this.

The consumers are not confused by veggie burgers or sausages in the least. Of course the violent and destructive animal agriculture lobby is powerful, but I still hope there is a seed of democracy and common sense remaining in Europe.

In a time where Europe wants to lower the number of regulations they suddenly want to impose a rule that has no additional value and solves a problem that does not exist. Please have some common sense and start focussing on stuff that really matters.

It's about food culture! What it contains can not be regulated. A sausage is a sausage. A bus is a bus. Should we judge the people on the bus too?

This issue matters to me because I am an early-stage start-up founder in the food industry. I am 27 years old and I am looking to contribute to society. My intentions are pure: to combat climate change, to make our food supply chain more resilient, to make biodiversity thrive, to make people healthy, and to reduce societal costs. I create delicious lentil-based products that inspire people to make lentils a central part of their diet. Lentils (and other pulses) are the key to making all of the above possible. The first product is a spread, but I need to create more products to be profitable in this highly competitive industry. I would gladly create a lentil burger and a lentil sausage, which will clearly state that they are lentil-based and for sure the brand's name "Lentl" would fully take away the confusion. Although, maybe I will make it into a hybrid product, which does have some meat in it. This is actually a direct demand I received from an interested supermarket. Yet, how should I call the products? A disc? A long lentil thing? The products would then for sure end up in the meat-isle, but meat-eating customers would be utterly confused. Or not?... The future of my company is in your hands. I ask you to support innovation, to support entrepreneurs, and to act on your responsibility as politicians.

It is ridiculous that this is a priority of our politics. It is also wrong to assume that animal products must be secured like this in our language.

Language is dynamic. Sausage or burger doesn't have to mean it is meat. It can be referring to the taste and the experience of the product. I don't feel like my rights are being in any way protected. With clear vegan labelling I don't think anyone would be confused about the contents of the product.

The debate is completely useless, EU hast many other "problems" to solve. Of course everyone knows what he or she that Veggie contains no meat, and sausage or Burger means a shape, not the contents. However, due to the discussion I got curious and tried some meat alternatives, perhaps this was the intent…