European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
During a major decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "steak" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
What the Decision Means
If the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to take effect, it needs to gain support from most of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains far from certain.
The Debate Surrounding the Measure
Proponents argue that customers require clear information and while meat terms should exclusively describe items from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not synthetic production nor vegetable sources," said French lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move pointless restriction.
"Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Legal Context
The isn't the first attempt to regulate these terminology. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government earlier introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that changing established terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Comes Following the Vote
The proposal now requires review by EU member states, where it needs to obtain broad support to become law.
Given the mixed opinions within both lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.
