EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms should exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research showing that most consumers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of shoppers understand these names provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.