European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names must exclusively refer to products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France earlier enacted a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
