Veggie 'burgers' face the chop as EU lawmakers back labeling ban

Strasbourg, France: The European Parliament voted Wednesday to ban the use of meat related terms including burger and steak to market plant based...

Strasbourg, France: The European Parliament voted Wednesday to ban the use of meat-related terms including "burger" and "steak" to market plant-based foods, in a win for disgruntled farmers.

EU lawmakers approved the legal proposal with 355 votes in favour and 247 against during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

The text still needs to be negotiated with the bloc's 27 member states before it can become law.

Concerns over animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farms have driven more Europeans towards vegetarian and vegan diets, advocated as a healthier alternative to regular meat consumption.

But many European livestock farmers -- and the politicians who represent them -- see plant-based foods that mimic meat products as one more threat to an already-troubled sector.