EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers need clear information and while meat terms should exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to become law.
Given the divided views among both politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
