European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require clear information and that meat terms should exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another effort to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that most consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces review by European governments, and it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
