EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant vote this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across European Union countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand these names as long as products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
