EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need clear information and while traditional names must only refer to products from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This marks another effort to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided products are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within both lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
