EU Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across EU countries.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers need clear information and while meat terms should only refer to products derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the decision populist tactics.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Public Response
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that altering established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite surveys showing that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as products are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers recognize these names provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next faces review by European governments, and it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Given the divided views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
