European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal is implemented, popular vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers require clear information and that meat terms must only describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Context
This marks another attempt to control these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as items are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal now requires consideration by European governments, where it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
