🔗 Share this article European Lawmakers Vote to Prohibit Meat-Based Names for Vegetarian Products In a major decision on Wednesday, European Parliament members voted 355 to 247 to reserve product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products. What the Vote Means Should the measure is implemented, common vegetarian products like veggie burgers, tofu steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to be renamed across European Union countries. However, before the restriction to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, which remains uncertain. Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal Supporters argue that customers need clear information and while meat terms should exclusively refer to products from livestock. "An escalope and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not synthetic production or plant products," stated France's lawmaker Céline Imart. Critics, led by environmental lawmakers, called the decision populist maneuvering. "Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz. Previous Efforts and Legal Background This marks another effort to control such terminology. The European parliament rejected a similar ban in four years ago. The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in recent years, but the European court of justice determined it illegal under EU law in this year. Industry and Public Response Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, warning that altering established terms would confuse shoppers. Consumer groups point to research indicating that most consumers comprehend these names when items are clearly marked as vegetarian. "Nearly 70% of consumers recognize the terminology provided products are explicitly marked plant-based," noted Irina Popescu, a food policy expert at BEUC. What Comes Following the Vote The legislative measure now faces review by European governments, and it must secure majority support to be enacted. Given the divided views within both lawmakers and the general population, the outcome of this initiative remains unclear.