EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant vote this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers require clear labeling and while meat terms must exclusively refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that most shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The proposal now requires consideration by European governments, where it must secure broad support to become law.
Given the mixed opinions among various politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
