EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU member states, which is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms should only refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to control these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, where it must secure broad support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions among both politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
