European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout EU countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains uncertain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require transparent labeling and while meat terms should only describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker CĂ©line Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to control these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, and it must secure majority support to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
