European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union countries.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and while meat terms should only describe products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize these names provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces consideration by European governments, where it must obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
