The European Union has stated that companies can give meat-like names to their vegetarian products even though they contain no meat. The EU debated whether or not a veggie burger is a burger. Europe's largest farming association wanted to ban the use of names like burger, sausage and steak in vegetable-based food. It said this naming was "misleading and unfair marketing" that damaged farmers and meat companies. A spokesperson said: "We simply call for the work of millions of European farmers and livestock sector workers to be acknowledged and respected."
The European Consumer Organization hailed the "common sense" behind the veggie burgers decision. It said: "Consumers are in no way confused by a soy steak or chick pea-based sausage, so long as it is clearly labelled as vegetarian or vegan. Terms like "burger" and "steak" for plant-based foods help consumers understand how to integrate them into their meals." Greenpeace said it wondered why livestock farmers were confused by the name veggie burger. It tweeted: "If they're confused by the word 'veggie burger,' what do they think a 'hot dog' is?"