EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require transparent information and while traditional names must only refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not from laboratory art or vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now faces review by European governments, and it needs to obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
