EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and while meat terms should exclusively refer to items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by European governments, and it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
