European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Foods
In a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian items such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, something that remains far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Measure
Proponents contend that consumers need transparent information and that meat terms should exclusively refer to products from animals.
"A steak and sausages are goods from animal farming: not from laboratory art nor plant products," stated French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Opponents, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision pointless regulation.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to regulate such terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a comparable ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations cite research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names when items are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The legislative measure now requires review by European governments, where it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed views among various lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
