European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear labeling and that meat terms must exclusively refer to products from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the move unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier 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.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next requires review by EU member states, where it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
