EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require transparent information and that meat terms should only refer to products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move pointless restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority support to be enacted.
Given the divided views within various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
