Hungary is defending its traditional culinary practices against the European Union’s push for insect-based and lab-grown foods. The EU agriculture ministers, led by Hungary under the slogan “Make Europe Great Again,” are meeting to discuss these issues. Hungary, with Viktor Orban at the helm, argues that traditional foods like pizza, pierogi, and roquefort are integral to European culture and that people are resistant to adopting “novel foods” like bug burgers and lab-grown meat.
The Hungarian government stresses that traditional food production is essential to the European way of life. They believe that the push for insect and lab-grown foods, driven by concerns over climate change, threatens this cultural heritage. Orban’s administration sees this as an imposition by globalist organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The EU, often at odds with Orban’s policies, fears that resisting these innovations might weaken Europe’s food security. A diplomatic source expressed concern that without embracing new food technologies, Europe might struggle to ensure food security. However, Hungary argues that enforcing climate targets, which lead to farm closures, only increases food insecurity and reliance on non-traditional foods.
In recent years, the EU has approved numerous new food types, with many more applications under review. Hungary’s resistance to these changes highlights the ongoing tension between preserving cultural traditions and adapting to new food technologies. This debate underscores the broader struggle within the EU over how best to balance innovation with tradition.
