Soon to be banned for veggies? EU wants to end the schnitzel dispute by law!

A burger is not a burger - or is it?

Can a veggie burger still be called a burger? Or will a soy schnitzel soon just be a "plant-based cutlet"? This is exactly what is currently being hotly debated in Brussels. Background: The EU is planning to ban the naming of vegan meat alternatives. What previously sounded like a free choice on supermarket shelves could soon be regulated by law - to the benefit of the meat industry.

At the heart of all this is a proposal from the EU Parliament's Agriculture Committee. As reported by the Münchner Merkur, terms such as "burger", "schnitzel", "steak" or "sausage" are to be reserved exclusively for real meat products. According to the EU document, terms such as "egg yolk" or "egg white" should also only be used for animal products in future.

The reason? Consumers are allegedly being misled by the current names. The Greens counter: "Nobody will confuse a seitan schnitzel with a veal schnitzel."

The dispute over the labels

The EPP - the Christian Democrat group, which also includes the CDU and CSU - is leading the initiative. French rapporteur Céline Imart sums it up from her point of view: "A steak is made of meat - period." It is about consumer protection, transparency - and the protection of farmers.

However, critics believe the exact opposite is the case. The Greens speak of "cheap populism", which primarily harms farmers and consumers. If vegan products are no longer allowed to be called what they are currently called, consumers will lose their bearings - and producers of plant-based alternatives will be slowed down economically.

The SPD is also against the ban. MEP Maria Noichl says: "The discussion is missing the point. It would be more important to have clear origin labeling for real meat: Where does it come from? How were the animals kept? Such information has so far been missing on many packages - but it would make a real difference.

EU control mania or legitimate consumer protection?

What many people don't realize is that a similar attempt has already been before the European Court of Justice - and was rejected. At the time, the judges ruled that terms such as "vegan burger" or "soy sausage" were permitted as long as the packaging was not misleading.

Nevertheless, the EU Commission is now once again working on a stricter version. The current draft from the Agriculture Committee is not yet final - but the direction is clear: the aim is to protect meat as a concept. The plenary vote in October will show whether plant-based food rights will fall by the wayside.

Is that really necessary?

It seems like a sham debate that loses sight of the real point: nobody thinks of beef when they think of a "vegan burger", and nobody feels cheated if a tofu schnitzel looks like a schnitzel - but isn't one. The EU's name police obviously have other concerns than animal welfare, environmental protection or consumer rights. Anyone who wants to ban pea-based "schnitzel" is not only making a fool of themselves, but is also damaging an entire industry - and ultimately people who simply want to eat more consciously.