European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most shoppers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided items are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, where it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
