Culinary Battle: Turkey and Germany Argue over Copyright of Döner Kebab

An attempt by a Turkish association to fix the name and rules for cooking döner kebab in the European Union has been met with resistance from Germany, which considers this dish its own.

This was reported by Hurriyet Daily News.

In April, the International Federation of Döner (UDOFED), based in Turkey, applied to the European Commission for a special status for döner kebab, which would mean that döner kebabs in the EU would have to meet a strict list of criteria, from the exact composition of meat and spices to the thickness of the knife used to cut the meat. And those who do not meet these requirements will not be able to call their product a döner kebab.

This move caused outrage in Germany, where the göner has become a symbol of the country's large Turkish community. In Berlin, it is even claimed that it was here that the döner kebab was invented in 1972.

‘Döner belongs to Germany. Everyone should have the right to decide for themselves how it is prepared and eaten here. No instructions from Ankara are needed,’ said German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, whose parents emigrated from Turkey.

The German government filed an objection to the Turkish application ahead of Wednesday's deadline. The European Commission must now decide whether Berlin's objection is admissible. If so, both sides must reach a compromise within six months.

According to the Association of European Döner Kebab Producers (ATDID), Germany accounts for two-thirds of sales of this product on the European market, which is estimated at 2.4 billion euros a year.

In April, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier brought kebab meat with him during his visit to Turkey as a symbol of the close ties between the two countries.