European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
Should the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names throughout EU markets.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that consumers require clear information and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels when items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now faces review by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Considering the divided views within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.
