European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers require clear labeling and while traditional names should only describe products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced 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 Response
Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize these names provided items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.