European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers need transparent labeling and that meat terms must exclusively describe items derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when items are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand the terminology provided items are clearly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal next requires review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.