EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear information and while traditional names must only describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names as long as products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology as long as products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority support to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions among both politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
