European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need clear information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires consideration by European governments, where it must secure majority approval to become law.
Given the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
