European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Based Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
If this proposal is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to take effect, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Proponents contend that customers require transparent information and that meat terms should exclusively describe items derived from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are products from our livestock: not laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated France's MEP the proposal's author.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Judicial Background
This isn't the first attempt to control such names. The European parliament voted down a similar ban in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Consumer Response
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, cautioning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys showing that most consumers comprehend these names as long as products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Next
The proposal next requires consideration by EU member states, where it must secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided views among various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
