EU Lawmakers Decide to Prohibit Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Products

During a significant decision on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names including "burger" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.

The Decision Means

Should this proposal becomes law, common vegetarian products such as veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union markets.

Nevertheless, for the restriction to be enforced, it must gain support from a majority of the 27 EU countries, something that is far from certain.

The Debate Behind the Proposal

Supporters contend that customers require transparent labeling and while meat terms must only describe items from animals.

"An escalope or a sausage represent products from our livestock: not from laboratory art nor vegetable sources," stated French MEP Céline Imart.

Critics, led by Green MEPs, described the decision populist tactics.

"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse shoppers, only rightwing politicians," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.

Past Efforts and Legal Context

This marks another effort to regulate such names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar ban in four years ago.

The French government previously introduced a domestic ban on meat terms for plant-based foods in recent years, but EU courts determined it illegal under EU law in this year.

Business and Public Reaction

Leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering established names would mislead shoppers.

Consumer groups cite surveys indicating that the majority of shoppers comprehend these names when items are properly marked as vegetarian.

"Almost 70% of shoppers recognize the terminology provided items are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer officer at BEUC.

What Following the Vote

The legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, where it needs to secure broad approval to be enacted.

Considering the mixed opinions among both politicians and the public, the outcome of this initiative is still uncertain.