EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and while traditional names should exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that most consumers comprehend these names when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now faces consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within both politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
