EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, common plant-based products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must gain approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers need transparent labeling and while traditional names must only describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand these names provided items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next requires review by European governments, and it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Given the mixed opinions among both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
