European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Vote Means
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and that meat terms should only refer to items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
The marks another attempt to control these names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France previously enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that most consumers understand product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires review by European governments, where it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Given the divided views within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.
