European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Means
If the measure is implemented, popular plant-based items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it must gain approval from most of the 27 EU member states, which is uncertain.
Key Arguments Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and while traditional names must only describe items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the move pointless regulation.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only certain lawmakers," said Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
The marks another attempt to control these names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading Germany's supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, warning that changing familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are properly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers understand these names provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The legislative measure now faces consideration by European governments, where it must secure majority approval to become law.
Considering the divided opinions among both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
