EU Parliament Vote to Ban Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
The Decision Means
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could have to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names must only refer to items derived from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
This marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar prohibition in 2020.
France previously introduced a domestic restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under EU law in this year.
Business and Consumer Reaction
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand product labels when products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names as long as products are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires review by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
