ECJ: EU states cannot blanket ban meat terms for veggie alternatives

European Union countries cannot generally prohibit the use of terms like "schnitzel" or "sausage" for plant-based alternatives, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Friday

France had issued a ban of the use of meat terms for vegetarian products which was challenged by several associations and food producer Beyond Meat.

The ECJ said that member states can only restrict the use of terms traditionally associated with meat products if they define legal names for plant-protein products.

The European Vegetarian Union (EVU), one of the plaintiffs, said they were "very happy" with the decision.

"By ensuring clarity in food labelling, we can promote plant-based alternatives and work towards achieving environmental targets as well as boost EU competitiveness and innovation," said the EVU's Rafael Pinto.