European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products

During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.

The Decision Means

If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union countries.

However, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains uncertain.

Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal

Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and while meat terms should exclusively describe products from animals.

"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated French MEP the proposal's author.

Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the move political tactics.

"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only 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 comparable ban in 2020.

France earlier enacted a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in 2024.

Business and Public Response

Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would confuse consumers.

Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegan.

"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.

What Comes Following the Vote

This legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.

Given the divided views within both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.