European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need transparent labeling and that traditional names should exclusively describe products from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to regulate these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers understand product labels when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, where it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within both politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
