EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major decision this week, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names across EU markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require transparent labeling and that meat terms must exclusively refer to items from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that most consumers comprehend these names when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next faces consideration by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
