European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a major decision this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers need clear labeling and while meat terms must only describe items derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the decision populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure now faces review by European governments, and it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
