Overview
- The European Parliament backed restricting names like sausage, schnitzel, burger and steak to animal products by a 355–247 vote with 30 abstentions, but the measure now faces negotiations with EU countries.
- Inter‑institutional talks under the Danish Council Presidency began on October 14, and it remains unclear whether the naming ban will survive the final compromise.
- Lead sponsor MEP Céline Imart argues the change protects consumers and recognizes farmers’ work, citing a risk of confusion and differing nutritional profiles between meat and plant-based items.
- Retailers and producers including Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Burger King, Beyond Meat and Rügenwalder Mühle oppose the move; Rügenwalder warns potential double‑digit million‑euro sales losses and costly relabeling.
- Consumer groups BEUC and foodwatch say shoppers can already distinguish products, a YouGov poll shows Germans split on reserving meat terms, and Germany’s government has not set a position as Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer publicly rejects the ban.