European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and while meat terms must exclusively refer to products derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of consumers understand product labels when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal now faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.