EU Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant decision this week, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers require transparent labeling and that meat terms should exclusively refer to items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Context
This marks another effort to control such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names when products are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand these names as long as items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now faces review by EU member states, and it must secure majority support to be enacted.
Given the divided opinions within both politicians and the public, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
