European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names should only refer to items from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that most consumers understand product labels when products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal now requires consideration by European governments, where it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within both politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
