EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need transparent information and that traditional names must exclusively refer to products from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces review by European governments, where it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Given the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
