European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe items derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
This isn't the first effort to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers understand product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal now faces review by European governments, and it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
