EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require transparent information and that meat terms should only describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
The marks another attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names when products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand these names provided items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires review by European governments, where it needs to obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the divided views among both politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
