European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products

In a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.

The Vote Signifies

Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union markets.

Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which is uncertain.

Key Arguments Behind the Proposal

Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and while meat terms should only describe items derived from livestock.

"An escalope or a sausage are products from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.

Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision pointless regulation.

"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.

Previous Efforts and Judicial Background

This marks another effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.

The French government earlier introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.

Industry and Public Reaction

Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.

Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand these names as long as items are properly identified as vegetarian.

"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.

What Comes Next

This legislative measure next faces consideration by EU member states, and it must secure broad approval to be enacted.

Given the mixed views among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.