EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across EU markets.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require transparent information and that traditional names should only refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages represent products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The marks another effort to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most shoppers understand product labels as long as items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now faces review by EU member states, where it must secure majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
