In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
Should the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains uncertain.
Proponents contend that customers need clear labeling and while meat terms must only refer to products derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers comprehend these names as long as products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
This legislative measure next requires review by European governments, where it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
