EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names must only describe products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
This isn't the first effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names when products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal next faces review by European governments, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
