European Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian Foods
During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Means
If the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may have to be renamed throughout European Union countries.
Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, which remains uncertain.
The Arguments Behind the Proposal
Proponents argue that customers require clear labeling and while meat terms should exclusively refer to items derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated France's MEP Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, described the move political tactics.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Context
The isn't the first effort to control these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
Leading Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing familiar terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when items are properly identified as vegan.
"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now faces consideration by European governments, and it must obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the mixed opinions among various politicians and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.
