EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and that meat terms should exclusively describe products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move pointless restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to control such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided products are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views among both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
