EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the move populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
The isn't the first effort to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
France earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next requires review by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
