EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a major vote this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, popular vegetarian items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
However, before the restriction to take effect, it must receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and while meat terms should exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art nor plant products," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions among both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
