š Share this article EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods In a significant vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products. What the Decision Signifies Should this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU markets. However, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is uncertain. Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal Proponents contend that customers require clear information and while meat terms must only refer to products from livestock. "A steak or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker CĆ©line Imart. Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision political tactics. "Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Past Efforts and Judicial Background This isn't the first attempt to control such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in 2020. The French government earlier introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024. Business and Public Reaction Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead shoppers. Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when products are properly marked as vegetarian. "Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote This proposal next faces review by EU member states, where it must secure broad support to become law. Given the mixed views among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.