European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across EU countries.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear labeling and while traditional names must only describe products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
This marks another effort to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by European governments, where it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Given the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
