European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not synthetic production or plant products," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most shoppers understand these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next faces consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed views among various politicians and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
