EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, for the ban to take effect, it needs to gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and that meat terms should exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that most consumers understand product labels when items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next faces review by EU member states, where it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
