European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
Should this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers need clear labeling and while traditional names must exclusively describe products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers understand product labels as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next faces consideration by European governments, and it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided views among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
