European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote this week, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require clear labeling and while traditional names must only describe products derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The marks another effort to control such names. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain majority support to be enacted.
Given the divided views within both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
