EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
Should the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that customers need transparent labeling and while meat terms should only describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, described the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
