EU Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that is uncertain.
Key Debate Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need clear labeling and while traditional names should exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision political tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers understand product labels as long as items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, and it needs to obtain majority support to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the general population, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
