European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers require transparent labeling and that meat terms should only describe products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when products are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal now faces consideration by European governments, and it needs to secure majority support to become law.
Given the divided views among both lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
