European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
However, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This marks another effort to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted 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.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
