EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across European Union markets.
However, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that customers need clear information and that traditional names should only refer to products derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers understand these names when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal now faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
