European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need transparent information and that meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, and it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
