EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a significant vote this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names throughout European Union countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, which is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and while traditional names should only refer to products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP CĂ©line Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers understand these names when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal next faces review by EU member states, and it needs to obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.