European Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a major vote this week, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to change their names across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, which is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers need clear information and that traditional names should exclusively describe items from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are products from animal farming: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups cite research showing that the majority of consumers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as products are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy 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.
Considering the mixed views among various politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative is still unclear.
