EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major vote this week, European Parliament members voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, popular vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the ban to take effect, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and that meat terms should only describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the move pointless restriction.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
The isn't the first effort to control these names. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France earlier introduced a national restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to research indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next faces review by European governments, where it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among both politicians and the general population, the future of this initiative is still unclear.
