Behind the proposal is the French right-wing member Céline Imart, as part of the work on new rules to facilitate for Europe's farmers.
In a vote on Wednesday, she received support from 355 members against 247 to stop vegetarian products from being called words such as burgers, steaks or sausages.
Let's call a spade a spade, said Imart to the news agency AFP before the vote.
Swedish criticism
However, the Swedish members do not mince words in their criticism of their colleagues in Strasbourg. "Political nonsense" and "EU at its worst" are just a few of the judgments.
Embarrassing. The EU has much more important things to deal with. I am convinced that everyone knows the difference between a carrot patty and a meat patty, says Heléne Fritzon (S).
This is so utterly stupid. They have let the French government, French farmers and the meat industry dictate the terms. Stupid, says Emma Wiesner (C).
France has already previously tried to introduce similar bans at home, but got a no last year when the matter was taken further to the EU Court.
What do the EU countries say?
In order for the new EU ban to become a reality, it is now required that the EU member states also say yes in upcoming compromise negotiations with the parliament.
There, the Swedish members expect that Sweden will drive to stop a ban.
I am fairly convinced that this will straighten out and that Sweden will drive a good position in the council, says Jessica Polfjärd (The Moderate Party).
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Facts: EU on vegoburgers
TT
When the EU Parliament voted through its view on various measures to facilitate and strengthen Europe's farmers, a proposal for a ban on using words such as burgers, sausages and steaks to describe vegetarian products won with 355 votes against 247 and 30 abstentions.
Of the 21 Swedes, M, KD, L, S, V and The Green party voted no, while SD abstained.
The entire package was then voted through with 532 votes against 78 and 25 abstentions. In that vote, it was yes from The Green party, no from The Moderate Party, KD, The Liberals, C, S and V, and again abstained from SD.
Source: EU Parliament
