EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
If the measure becomes law, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need clear information and that traditional names should exclusively describe items from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate such terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now requires consideration by European governments, and it must secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
