European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names across EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and while meat terms should exclusively refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first effort to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
France previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces consideration by European governments, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
