European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and while traditional names must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the mixed views among various politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
