European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed across EU countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate these names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most shoppers understand these names as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
