European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms should only refer to items from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing established names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that most consumers comprehend these names when items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
