European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
In a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names across EU countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers require clear labeling and that traditional names should only refer to products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
This marks another effort to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels when products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires review by EU member states, where it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
