European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, which is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear information and while meat terms should exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure next requires review by European governments, and it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
