EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products

In a major vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.

What the Decision Means

Should this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout EU countries.

Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.

Key Arguments Surrounding the Measure

Proponents contend that customers require clear labeling and while traditional names should exclusively refer to items from livestock.

"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not laboratory art nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.

Critics, led by Green MEPs, called the decision unnecessary regulation.

"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.

Past Efforts and Judicial Context

This marks another attempt to regulate these names. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in four years ago.

France previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.

Business and Public Reaction

Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing established terms would confuse shoppers.

Consumer groups point to research indicating that most shoppers comprehend these names as long as products are properly marked as vegetarian.

"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.

What Comes Following the Vote

This legislative measure now requires consideration by European governments, where it needs to secure majority approval to be enacted.

Given the divided opinions within both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.