EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure is implemented, common plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names must only refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the general population, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
