EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and while meat terms must only refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier introduced a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next faces consideration by European governments, where it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
