European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names across European Union markets.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU countries, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names should only describe products derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art or vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision pointless regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to control such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by European governments, and it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still unclear.