European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Means
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based items such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, which remains uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers need transparent labeling and that traditional names must only refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said France's lawmaker CĂ©line Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first effort to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most consumers comprehend these names when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the mixed views within various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
