European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
However, for the ban to take effect, it needs to gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require transparent labeling and that meat terms should only describe items from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are products from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban 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
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most consumers understand these names when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
