The European Union is set to vote this week on whether to ban the use of meaty terms such as 'burger' and 'sausage' for plant-based products, and new trade arrangements mean the law could also apply to the UK. The Labour government's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, secured earlier this year, ties Britain to some EU food labelling rules.
If the amendment is passed by the European Commission and member state governments, it would automatically come into force in the UK, subject to potential negotiations for an exemption. The Food Standards Agency has told stakeholders that UK businesses would be subject to the new rules if adopted. Government sources said the 'common understanding' underpinning the deal would be undermined if a ban in the EU was not mirrored in the UK.
Supporters of the ban, including French centre-right MEP Céline Imart and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, argue that terms like 'steak' and 'sausage' should be reserved for livestock products. Imart stated: 'A steak, an escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock, not laboratory art nor plant products. There is a need for transparency and clarity for the consumer.'
Opponents, however, claim the ban is driven by livestock lobbyists rather than consumer demand. Joel Scott-Halkes of WePlanet said: 'The only confusion over plant-based food labelling in Europe is exactly which shadowy livestock lobby is behind it.' Retailers including Aldi, Lidl and Burger King have also voiced opposition, warning that banning familiar terms would hinder consumer decision-making.
A government spokesperson declined to comment on hypothetical scenarios, stating: 'We are focused on delivering an SPS deal that could add up to £5.1bn a year to our economy by cutting costs and reducing red tape for British growers, producers and retailers.'
