EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a major vote this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across EU markets.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand these names provided items are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next requires consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
