European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need transparent labeling and that traditional names must exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This marks another effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now requires review by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
