European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
Should this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers need clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe items from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art or plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The proposal now faces review by EU member states, and it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
