European Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers need clear information and that meat terms should only describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
This marks another effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers understand product labels when items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, where it must secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
