European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need transparent labeling and while meat terms should only refer to products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Next
This legislative measure next faces consideration by European governments, where it must obtain majority approval to become law.
Given the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
