European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which is far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require clear labeling and while meat terms must exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.
