EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, for the ban to take effect, it needs to gain support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need transparent information and that traditional names should only refer to products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or plant products," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This marks another effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative remains unclear.
