European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods

During a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.

What the Vote Means

Should this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU markets.

However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is far from certain.

The Arguments Surrounding the Measure

Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and that meat terms should only refer to products derived from animals.

"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.

Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.

"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.

Past Efforts and Judicial Context

The isn't the first attempt to control these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.

The French government earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.

Business and Public Reaction

Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.

Consumer groups cite research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.

"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand these names as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.

What Next

The legislative measure next faces consideration by EU member states, where it must obtain majority approval to become law.

Given the divided views within both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.