European Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major vote this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across EU markets.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers need transparent labeling and that meat terms must only refer to items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the decision political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most shoppers comprehend product labels when items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next faces review by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
