European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require clear information and that traditional names must exclusively refer to items from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This marks another effort to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The proposal now faces review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
