EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a major decision this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require transparent labeling and while meat terms should exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
