European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms should only describe products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers understand product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure now faces consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
