European Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision this week, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common plant-based products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed across EU countries.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and that traditional names should only refer to items from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in 2020.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Next
The proposal next faces consideration by European governments, where it must secure broad approval to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among various politicians and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
