European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
During a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers need clear information and that meat terms must only describe products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision pointless regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when items are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
