🔗 Share this article European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products During a significant vote this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products. The Decision Signifies Should this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names throughout European Union countries. However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that remains uncertain. Key Arguments Behind the Measure Supporters argue that consumers require clear information and that traditional names should exclusively describe items derived from animals. "A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP Céline Imart. Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless regulation. "Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz. Past Efforts and Legal Background The isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020. The French government earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024. Industry and Consumer Reaction Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse shoppers. Consumer groups point to research showing that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are clearly marked as vegan. "Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are explicitly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC. What Comes Next The legislative measure next faces review by European governments, where it needs to secure majority support to become law. Considering the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.