European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which remains uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear labeling and that traditional names should only describe products from animals.
"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand product labels when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
