European Parliament Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
If the measure is implemented, common plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed across EU markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move populist maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to regulate such names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as items are properly marked as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now requires review by European governments, and it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
