EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require transparent information and that traditional names must only describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to control such terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
