EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.
However, for the ban to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require clear information and while traditional names must exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
The proposal now faces consideration by European governments, and it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
