EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
In a significant decision this week, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Decision Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
However, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that consumers need clear information and while meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision unnecessary regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a domestic 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
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that the majority of consumers comprehend these names as long as products are properly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize the terminology as long as products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
This proposal next faces consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to be enacted.
Given the mixed views among various politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
