EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
If the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers require transparent information and that meat terms must exclusively describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision pointless regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Response
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it needs to secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
