🔗 Share this article European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products. The Vote Means If the measure becomes law, common plant-based items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names across EU countries. However, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, which is far from certain. The Arguments Surrounding the Measure Supporters argue that consumers require transparent information and while traditional names must exclusively refer to items from livestock. "A steak and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author. Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move pointless regulation. "Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Past Attempts and Legal Background This isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in 2020. The French government previously enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024. Business and Public Reaction Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers. Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names when items are properly identified as vegetarian. "Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote The proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must obtain broad approval to be enacted. Given the mixed views among both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.