EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and that meat terms must only refer to items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the decision populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The proposal now requires review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad support to become law.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
