European Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant decision this week, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms including "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed across European Union markets.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, which is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters contend that customers require clear labeling and that traditional names must exclusively refer to products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage represent products from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," stated France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, described the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austria's Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to control such names. EU lawmakers rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously introduced a national ban on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice ruled it invalid under EU law in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Major Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established names would confuse shoppers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand these names as long as items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure next requires consideration by European governments, where it needs to obtain broad support to become law.
Given the mixed views among both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
