EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which remains uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that customers need clear labeling and that meat terms must exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said France's MEP CĂ©line Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, and it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
