EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms must only describe products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are explicitly marked 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 needs to obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
