EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers need transparent information and that meat terms should only describe products from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing familiar names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that most consumers understand these names when items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize these names provided items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Next
This legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
