EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
Should this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear information and while meat terms should exclusively describe items from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure now requires review by European governments, where it must obtain majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
