EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively refer to products derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are products from animal farming: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that most shoppers comprehend these names when items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among both politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
