EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require clear labeling and while traditional names should only describe items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most consumers comprehend these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions within various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
