EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Terms for Vegetarian Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to reserve food names including "burger" and "sausage" exclusively for meat products.
What the Decision Signifies
Should this proposal becomes law, popular vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to change their names throughout EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the restriction to be enforced, it must receive support from most of the 27 EU member states, something that is uncertain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require clear information and while meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"A steak and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from laboratory art or plant products," said France's MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, called the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead shoppers, only certain lawmakers," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Background
This marks another attempt to regulate these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under European legislation in 2024.
Industry and Public Reaction
Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead shoppers.
Consumer groups cite research indicating that the majority of consumers understand product labels when products are clearly identified as vegan.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers understand these names provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.
What Comes Next
The proposal now requires consideration by European governments, and it needs to obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within various politicians and the general population, the future of the proposal is still uncertain.
