“What’s in a name?” Shakespeare once asked. Not “veggie,” if you’re talking about burgers in Europe. So says the European Union's parliament. It has voted to strip meat labels such as burger, bacon, and sausage from all plant-based products sold in countries in the EU. It did so on behalf of animal farmers. The farmers complain that branding such listings on plant-based products makes labels unclear to buyers. Farmers say it hurts their businesses. Companies who produce plant-based meat products include German supermarket chains Aldi and Lidl. They're steamed at having to spend millions of euros on new labels for their products. Consumer advocates and some environmentalists grilled the bill. They say most shoppers can tell the difference between meat and plant-based products. “Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse (people), only rightwing politicians,” Thomas Waitz told news outlets after the vote. “This tactic is (a smokescreen). No farmer will earn more money or secure their future with this ban.” Waitz is an Austrian Green European Parliament member (MEP). Other opponents said the parliament's time would be better spent trying to fix more pressing problems. That would include war. Or famine. Or climate change, they said. But supporters say the change provides clearer labels for shoppers. "A steak is made of meat — full stop. Using these names only for real meat keeps labels honest, protects farmers, and preserves Europe's culinary traditions," said conservative MEP Celine Imart prior to Wednesday’s vote. Imart backed the bill. It passed by a vote of 355-247. But the deal isn't fully done. Full adoption of the bill depends on it getting approved by the European Commission. It needs a majority vote in favor of it by the 27-nation alliance. Reflect: How do you think the words we use to describe things shape the way we think about them? Gif of a hamburger from GIPHY.
