Overview

• The European Parliament approved an EPP-backed plan to bar meat-associated terms such as burger, schnitzel and wurst on vegetarian and vegan products, but it will only take effect if EU member states agree.
• Trilogue negotiations with the Council are the next step, with the Danish presidency signaling hope for a quick deal and an initial round slated for October 14, though a majority for the naming curb remains uncertain.
• Major retailers and producers including Aldi Süd, Lidl, Burger King, Beyond Meat and Rügenwalder Mühle oppose the restriction, warning of hindered sales and citing short-term relabeling costs in the millions.
• Consumer groups such as foodwatch and Germany’s consumer centers report rare cases of mistaken purchases and argue familiar terms help signal taste and preparation, while hospitality leaders foresee menu and checkout system changes.
• Farm and meat-industry representatives support reserving terms like meat and sausage for animal products, and a YouGov survey found about half of Germans favor exclusive use of such names for animal-origin foods.