European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Means
Should this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This marks another effort to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology as long as items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces review by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within various politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still uncertain.
