EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that remains uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers require clear labeling and while traditional names should exclusively describe items from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to control such names. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that most consumers understand these names when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
