EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers need transparent labeling and while traditional names should exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker CĂ©line Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move unnecessary regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand product labels as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, where it must secure broad approval to become law.
Given the mixed views within various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
