European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across European Union countries.
However, before the ban to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which remains uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe products from livestock.
"A steak and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
This marks another effort to regulate these names. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups cite research showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within both politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
