European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant vote this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Means
If the measure becomes law, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across European Union markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains uncertain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need clear labeling and while traditional names must exclusively refer to products derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another effort to regulate such terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
The French government earlier enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that changing familiar names would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels when products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces review by European governments, where it must obtain majority support to be enacted.
Given the divided views within both politicians and the public, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
