European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
What the Decision Means
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across European Union countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms must exclusively refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names as long as items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize these names provided products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain broad approval to become law.
Considering the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains unclear.
