EU Lawmakers Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which is uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and that meat terms should exclusively describe products from animals.
"A steak or a sausage are products from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
This marks another attempt to regulate these names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Public Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would mislead shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names as long as products are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of shoppers understand these names provided items are explicitly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure next faces review by EU member states, and it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views among both lawmakers and the public, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.