German Supermarkets Shift Toward Higher Animal Welfare Standards for Meat

Major retailers are phasing out meat from the lowest welfare category, with new labeling systems and policies driving change in consumer options.

Aldi Süd has stopped selling sausage products from the lowest animal welfare category, with Aldi Nord planning the same by the end of 2025.
Other retailers like Lidl, Rewe, and Edeka are also transitioning to higher welfare standards, with varying timelines and progress.
The voluntary 'Haltungsform' labeling system, introduced in 2019, categorizes meat into four welfare levels, with plans to align with a new state-mandated five-level system starting in August 2025.
In 2023, only 1.5% of packaged pork in supermarkets came from the lowest welfare level, while 90.5% met slightly higher standards, and the share of higher levels is gradually increasing.
Consumer demand and initiatives like the 'Initiative Tierwohl' are driving these changes, but challenges remain, including limited willingness to pay higher prices and political hurdles in funding systemic agricultural reforms.