EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods

In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.

The Decision Signifies

If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.

However, for the ban to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.

Key Debate Surrounding the Measure

Supporters contend that customers require transparent labeling and that meat terms should exclusively describe items from animals.

"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.

Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless restriction.

"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.

Past Attempts and Judicial Context

The marks another effort to control such names. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.

France previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in 2024.

Industry and Consumer Reaction

Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.

Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.

"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.

What Comes Next

The legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, where it must secure majority approval to be enacted.

Considering the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal remains unclear.