European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a major decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require transparent information and while traditional names should exclusively describe products from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
The isn't the first effort to regulate these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering familiar names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
This legislative measure now requires consideration by European governments, and it needs to secure majority approval to become law.
Given the mixed views within various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
