EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which is far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers need clear information and while meat terms should exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that most consumers comprehend these names when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires consideration by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
