European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names across EU countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require transparent labeling and while meat terms must exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the decision populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to control these names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers 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 next requires consideration by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still unclear.