Brussels has found itself in a deadlock regarding the contentious issue of whether plant-based products can be marketed under terms like “veggie burgers” and “vegan sausages.” The latest round of talks between EU member states and the European Parliament ended without an agreement, leaving the future of these designations in limbo.
Conflict over plant-based food labeling
Central to the debate was French centre-right lawmaker Céline Imart, a grain farmer from southern France, who championed stricter regulations on the labeling of plant-based foods. Her proposal, however, faced internal criticism within her political group, as many deemed it “unnecessary.” This initiative was embedded within a broader reform of the EU’s agricultural market regulations, and, after weeks of discussions, it resurfaced at a critical juncture when even prominent figures such as Paul McCartney had voiced support for maintaining the terminology for veggie burgers.
During the meeting on Wednesday, discussions quickly deteriorated. Imart sought to revisit parts of the text that had already been settled, including contentious rules affecting prominent farming cooperatives. She also introduced new proposals regarding dairy contracts, which proved to be politically sensitive among member states, but failed to unify the Parliament team behind a coherent stance. One Parliament official noted,
“It was very messy,”
highlighting the chaotic turn of events.
Stalemate and future negotiations
EU countries, particularly Denmark, indicated they had no mandate to negotiate on either the naming regulations or dairy contracts. With both parties unwilling to make concessions, the negotiations ultimately stalled. Danish Agriculture Minister Jacob Jensen confirmed,
“We did not succeed in reaching an agreement,”
signaling the impasse.
Despite the setback, Imart remained optimistic about reconciling differences. In a statement, she asserted that the issues surrounding dairy contracts and meat-related names needed further discussion, claiming that “tangible progress” had been achieved and that negotiations could resume under Cyprus’s leadership in January. Meanwhile, Dutch Green lawmaker Anna Strolenberg expressed relief over the outcome, stating,
“It’s frustrating that we keep losing time on a veggie burger ban — but at least it wasn’t traded for weaker contracts [for dairy farmers].”
For the time being, products such as veggie burgers and vegan nuggets will retain their current names as the discussions are set to continue in the new year, and Brussels prepares for what some have dubbed its most peculiar food controversy.