Overview
- The European Parliament backed restrictions on using meat-associated terms like schnitzel, wurst, steak and burger for plant-based foods, but the text still requires agreement from EU member states.
- A first negotiating round under the Danish Council presidency was scheduled for 14 October, and the outcome and scope of any restrictions remain uncertain.
- Major retailers and producers including Aldi Süd, Lidl, Burger King, Beyond Meat and Rügenwalder Mühle urged lawmakers to drop the ban, warning it would confuse shoppers and impose costs, with Rügenwalder estimating mid–single-digit millions for relabeling.
- Consumer advocates such as foodwatch and the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband criticized the proposal, as did politicians across parties including CDU MEP Peter Liese, while the industry group Verband der Fleischwirtschaft argued for protected meat names to ensure clarity.
- Germany’s federal government has not taken a firm position on the proposal, polling shows roughly half of German respondents favor limiting meat terms to animal products, and local voices range from dismissing the issue to warning of potential product confusion.