EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require clear labeling and that meat terms must only describe products from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
The marks another effort to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted 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 Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must obtain majority approval to become law.
Given the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
