The Veggie Burger Debate: EU Court Blocks France’s Attempt to Ban Meaty Names On Plant-Based Food Labels

The European Court of Justice has ruled against France's attempt to ban the use of meat-like terms such as 'veggie burger' and 'plant-based sausage' on packaging of plant-based foods. The court's decision comes after a 2023 decree by the French government seeking to restrict the use of such terms was suspended following complaints from industry players and associations. This ruling will have implications for governments and companies across the EU, saving the plant-based industry from costly packaging and marketing redesigns.

The court also addressed France's attempt to restrict the inclusion levels of plant protein in plant-based products, ruling that member states cannot impose national measures that determine the maximum amount of plant protein in products using meat-like terms. The decision, which promotes consumer choice and protects the single EU market, comes after years of global debate over plant-based food labeling.