EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a significant vote this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in 2020.
France previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, and it needs to obtain broad approval to become law.
Given the mixed views within various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
