EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that customers require transparent labeling and while meat terms must exclusively describe items from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the move populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Considering the divided views among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
