European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Means
If this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need transparent information and that traditional names must only describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to control such terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Next
The proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad support to become law.
Given the divided opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.