European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and that traditional names should only refer to products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The marks another effort to control these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, and it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
