EU Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Foods
During a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, popular plant-based items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters argue that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms must exclusively refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages represent goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to control such terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels when products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces review by EU member states, where it must obtain broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.
