EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
If the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across EU markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need transparent information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first effort to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal now requires review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed views within both lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
