(de-news.net) – Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) has publicly urged the European Union to refrain from implementing a potential restriction on the use of terms such as “veggie sausage” and “veggie schnitzel” in the context of its ongoing legislative negotiations. According to media reports, Rainer expressed on German TV that he believed such a measure should be halted. Although the European Parliament has already voted in favor of introducing the ban, the matter remains under deliberation by the European Commission and the individual member states. Rainer emphasized that he did not wish to preempt the outcome of these discussions, yet he indicated that his stance on the issue was already well established and that, in his view, such a prohibition was unwarranted.

The minister reaffirmed his belief that the traditional understanding of a schnitzel — as a dish made from pork, turkey, or veal — remains valid and widely accepted. Nevertheless, he argued that the current debate surrounding the prohibition of vegetarian terminology was significantly overdue and should have been addressed a decade or more ago. In his assessment, consumers have long since adapted to these designations and are sufficiently informed to distinguish between conventional meat products and their plant-based alternatives. He maintained that individuals purchasing items labeled as “veggie schnitzel” are fully aware that these products are vegetarian in nature. Furthermore, Rainer warned that the introduction of such a ban could result in considerable economic repercussions, suggesting that it would impose substantial financial burdens on businesses operating within the food industry.