European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
In a major vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, popular plant-based items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to gain approval from most of the 27 EU member states, which remains uncertain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that consumers need clear labeling and that meat terms must exclusively describe products from livestock.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," stated French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
The isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers understand these names when items are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names provided products are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
