European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand product labels when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize these names provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must secure majority support to become law.
Given the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
