European Parliament Decide to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant decision this week, MEPs decided 355 to 247 to reserve food names including "steak" and "schnitzel" exclusively for meat products.
What the Vote Signifies
Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian items like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel could need to be renamed throughout EU countries.
However, for the restriction to take effect, it must receive support from a majority of the EU's 27 countries, something that remains far from certain.
Key Arguments Behind the Measure
Supporters contend that consumers need clear labeling and while meat terms must exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from animal farming: not synthetic production or plant products," said French lawmaker the proposal's author.
Critics, including environmental lawmakers, called the decision political maneuvering.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Efforts and Legal Background
The isn't the first attempt to control these terminology. The European parliament voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
The French government previously introduced a national restriction on traditional names for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Industry and Consumer Response
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the proposal, cautioning that altering familiar terms would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most consumers comprehend product labels as long as products are clearly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are clearly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This legislative measure now faces review by European governments, and it must secure majority support to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of this initiative remains uncertain.
