EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and that traditional names must only describe items derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Context
The marks another effort to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
