EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods

In a significant vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.

What the Vote Signifies

If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names throughout EU markets.

Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.

Key Arguments Behind the Proposal

Proponents contend that consumers require transparent labeling and that traditional names should only refer to items derived from livestock.

"An escalope or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP Céline Imart.

Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision unnecessary restriction.

"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.

Past Attempts and Legal Context

The marks another effort to control such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.

France previously introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.

Industry and Public Reaction

Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing established names would mislead shoppers.

Advocacy organizations cite research showing that the majority of consumers understand product labels when products are properly marked as vegetarian.

"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.

What Comes Next

The proposal next faces review by European governments, where it must secure broad support to become law.

Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.