🔗 Share this article EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products. The Vote Means If the measure becomes law, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across EU markets. However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive support from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains uncertain. Key Debate Behind the Measure Proponents contend that customers need clear information and while meat terms should only describe products derived from livestock. "A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author. Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move political tactics. "Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz. Past Attempts and Judicial Context The marks another effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020. France previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024. Industry and Consumer Response Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar names would mislead shoppers. Consumer groups cite research showing that most consumers comprehend these names when products are clearly identified as vegan. "Almost 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC. What Comes Next The legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to be enacted. Considering the divided views within various politicians and the public, the future of this initiative remains unclear.