EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across EU countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers require transparent information and while meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by European governments, and it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Given the divided views among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
