European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Means
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names across European Union countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it needs to receive approval from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that consumers require clear labeling and while meat terms should only refer to items derived from animals.
"A steak or a sausage represent goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," said France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision unnecessary restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Background
This marks another effort to regulate such names. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in 2020.
France earlier introduced a domestic ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Almost 70% of consumers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires review by European governments, where it must obtain broad support to become law.
Given the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
