European Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it must gain approval from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and that meat terms must exclusively describe products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another effort to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next faces consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
