🔗 Share this article EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods. The Vote Signifies Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout EU countries. Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that remains uncertain. Key Arguments Behind the Proposal Proponents contend that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names should exclusively refer to products derived from animals. "A steak or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author. Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the decision unnecessary regulation. "Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Past Efforts and Legal Background This marks another effort to control such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020. The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024. Industry and Consumer Response Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead shoppers. Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers understand these names when products are clearly marked as vegan. "Nearly 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC. What Next The proposal now requires consideration by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to be enacted. Given the divided views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.