EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, popular plant-based products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout European Union countries.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which is uncertain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names must exclusively refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, and it must secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed views within various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
