European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand product labels as long as products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next requires review by European governments, where it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
