European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names should only describe items derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
