European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require clear information and that traditional names should only describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to control these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, and it must secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
