Overview

• MEPs in Strasbourg are scheduled to vote on Oct. 8 on a European People’s Party amendment that would bar meat terms for products without meat.
• Céline Imart of the EPP is spearheading the push, with German leaders Friedrich Merz and Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer publicly backing the restrictions.
• Consumer groups including BEUC and Foodwatch, along with major retailers Aldi and Lidl and Burger King, argue consumers are not misled and warn against the change.
• Producer Rügenwalder Mühle says roughly 60 items would need renaming and new packaging, estimating mid single‑digit million euros in immediate costs and possible double‑digit million annual sales losses.
• Any Parliament approval would still require agreement from EU member states before becoming law, leaving the final outcome and timing uncertain.