EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers require clear information and while meat terms must only refer to products from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering established names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided views among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
