The European Union is introducing rules to restrict how plant-based and other non-animal products are marketed using meat-related names. According to reporting, the EU will ban the use of terms such as “steaks” and “bacon” for plant-based products that mimic meat, addressing concerns raised by some livestock farmers. They argue that such labelling can mislead consumers and potentially harm the livestock sector.
Under the proposal, the EU defines “meat” as the edible parts of animals. The rules also extend beyond traditional plant-based alternatives, with the definition intended to prevent the term “meat” from being used for lab-grown or cell-based products. Meanwhile, the reporting indicates that some commonly used alternatives, such as “veggie burgers,” would remain permitted, suggesting the policy focuses on specific meat-designation terms rather than all food descriptions.
The measures reflect a regulatory effort to separate non-animal products from animal-derived products in consumer-facing labels, while setting clearer boundaries for what can and cannot be called “meat” within the EU.
