EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
If this proposal is implemented, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers need transparent labeling and while meat terms must only describe products from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
This legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, and it must secure majority support to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.