European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
The Vote Signifies
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items like plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel could have to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it needs to receive support from most of the EU's 27 member states, which remains far from certain.
The Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require clear information and that traditional names should only describe products derived from animals.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from our livestock: not laboratory art or vegetable sources," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart.
Critics, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead consumers, only rightwing politicians," declared Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Efforts and Judicial Background
The marks another attempt to control these names. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago.
France previously enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Industry and Public Reaction
Major Germany's supermarkets including Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering familiar names would mislead consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to research showing that the majority of shoppers comprehend product labels as long as items are clearly identified as vegan.
"Almost seventy percent of consumers understand the terminology provided products are clearly labelled plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC.
What Next
This proposal next faces review by EU member states, and it must obtain majority support to become law.
Considering the mixed opinions among both politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal remains unclear.
