🔗 Share this article European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products During a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods. The Decision Means If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across European Union markets. Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that remains uncertain. The Arguments Behind the Proposal Proponents argue that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively refer to products from animals. "An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author. Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision political tactics. "Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz. Past Efforts and Legal Context The marks another effort to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020. The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in 2024. Industry and Public Response Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established names would mislead shoppers. Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly identified as vegetarian. "Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote This proposal next faces review by European governments, and it must secure majority approval to become law. Given the divided opinions among both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.