đŸ”— Share this article European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods During a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods. What the Decision Means Should the measure is implemented, popular plant-based products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout European Union markets. However, before the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which is uncertain. The Arguments Behind the Measure Proponents argue that consumers need transparent labeling and that traditional names should only refer to products derived from animals. "A steak and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author. Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move populist maneuvering. "Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz. Previous Efforts and Judicial Background The isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago. The French government earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in this year. Business and Public Reaction Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers. Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand these names as long as items are properly identified as vegan. "Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC. What Next This proposal now requires review by European governments, where it must obtain broad support to become law. Given the divided views among both politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.