European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
If the measure becomes law, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need transparent information and that traditional names should only refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
The marks another attempt to control such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces review by European governments, where it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
