European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products
During a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" exclusively for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the ban to take effect, it must receive approval from most of the 27 EU member states, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers require clear information and that traditional names must only refer to items from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production or vegetable sources," stated French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move populist maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just certain lawmakers," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to regulate such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France previously enacted a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to research indicating that the majority of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology as long as items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The legislative measure next requires review by EU member states, and it must secure broad support to become law.
Given the divided views within both politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
