European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Means
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union markets.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU countries, which remains far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers require clear information and while meat terms must only refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that altering established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names when products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers understand these names as long as products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to become law.
Considering the mixed views among both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal is still uncertain.
