During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for animal-derived foods.
The Vote Means
Should the measure becomes law, common vegetarian items such as veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to be renamed across EU countries.
Nevertheless, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to gain support from most of the 27 EU countries, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Behind the Proposal
Supporters contend that consumers require clear labeling and that traditional names should exclusively refer to items from livestock.
"An escalope or a sausage are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP the proposal's author.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move unnecessary restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, wheat schnitzel and tofu sausage don't mislead consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Legal Context
The marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament voted down a comparable prohibition in 2020.
France previously enacted a domestic ban on meat terms for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Public Response
Leading Germany's retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the proposal, warning that changing established terms would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations point to surveys indicating that most consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly marked as vegan.
"Nearly 70% of consumers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by European governments, and it must secure broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed views within various politicians and the general population, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
