The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to prohibit the use of terms such as steak, sausage or hamburger for products that do not contain meat. The Eurodiputados supported by 355 against 247 votes, a proposal of the correct prohibition names such as “Steak Vegetable” or “Burger Veggie”. But the measure must still be negotiated with European states.
“These are transparency and clarity for the consumer and the recognition for the work of our breeders,” said Céline Imart, the deputy of Ala Right (European people party) at the origin of the text. “It’s not about prohibiting plant alternatives, but I am attached to the assessment of the terms, to their true meaning,” added Tuesday during a lively debate in the hemicycle.
Ecologists chosen to the wind stand
Vegetarian products that mimic meat have experienced an boom in recent years, carried out by consumer concern to eat healthy, defend animal welfare or reduce their environmental footprint, while farms are large CO2 transmitters. This law was aimed at prohibiting denominations as “soybean steak” has divided the right. The German Peter Liese elected finds, for example, “damage” that the European Parliament spends time to “such stupidity.”
The chosen environmentalists were standing against the text. The Dutchman Anna Stolenberg has died the “meat lobby” that “tries to weaken his innovative competitors in the field of food.” But in the eyes of the elevation and flesh sector of the French (Interbev), “appropriate the names of the meat for marketing, the vegetable alternatives” spread the reference points and weaken the recognition of a raw and 100% natural product. ” In 2020, the MEPs rejected a law on the same issue. However, the European elections of 2024 changed the balance of the parties, giving more places to the correct and distant deputies, who demand their proximity to the agricultural sector.
Source: BFM TV
