Battle Over Bologna Could Impact PA Economy, Sen. Casey Says

A battle over bologna is brewing and Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey wants it to stop. At issue is whether the European Union can tell Americans what to call their processed meats.

As part of ongoing trade negotiations, the European Union wants to block American meat producers from calling their exported meats names with European origins, like bologna, bratwurst or black forest ham, according to information from Casey's office.

Casey (D-Pa) is one of several U.S. Senators calling on the Obama Administration to reject those attempts by the European Union. “This could hurt Pennsylvania meat producers that make products like Lebanon Bologna,” he said.

“European Union nations are attempting to assert so-called ‘geographic indicators’ that could harm a growing industry that contributes $12 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy every year and employs nearly 100,000 people,” Casey said in a statement.

In a letter to the US Department of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative, Casey and a bipartisan group of Senators urged the Administration to reject the request.

“The Administration should reject any attempt by the European Union to undercut one of our nation’s key industries,” Casey said. “Diminishing these commonly used brand names could harm economic growth and impact a sector of Pennsylvania’s economy that supports nearly 100,000 jobs.”