EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
If the measure is implemented, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers need clear information and that traditional names must exclusively refer to items from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another effort to regulate these names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces review by European governments, where it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
