European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need clear information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
This marks another effort to control such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that most consumers understand product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to be enacted.
Given the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
