European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require transparent information and while meat terms should exclusively describe products from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not from synthetic production or plant products," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Background
This isn't the first effort to control these names. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next faces review by European governments, where it needs to obtain majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
