đź”— Share this article European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products In a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods. What the Decision Means If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets. Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain. The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal Supporters contend that consumers need transparent labeling and while traditional names should exclusively describe items from animals. "A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's MEP CĂ©line Imart. Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move unnecessary regulation. "Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Previous Attempts and Legal Context The isn't the first effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago. France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in 2024. Business and Public Reaction Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers. Consumer groups cite research indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegan. "Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote This legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted. Given the mixed views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.