Rudersdal council to vote on phasing out conventional pork in public meals

A divided municipal council in Rudersdal, north of Copenhagen, will decide Wednesday whether to end the use of conventionally farmed pork in public kitchens, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

The proposal, backed by a minority bloc of SF, the Radical Left, the Local List, and Social Democrats, calls for replacing conventional pork with organic or free-range alternatives. First Deputy Mayor Court Møller (R) framed the move as a follow-up to last year’s ban on fast-grown “turbo chicken” in municipal food services.

“A year ago we said no to turbo chicken—now it’s time to do the same with conventional pork,” Møller said. “We want to make it clear that this is no longer acceptable.”

The measure failed in the finance committee but proponents hope to advance it to budget negotiations. Opponents, including Conservative council member Christoffer Buster Reinhardt, argue the shift would cost an extra 500,000 kroner (€67,000) annually—funds not currently budgeted.

“Either we overspend, or we cut back on meat portions, for example in nursing home meals,” Reinhardt said. “We won’t support that.” He instead proposed increasing the overall share of organic products in municipal procurement.

Møller dismissed the alternative, noting some public kitchens already source 80–85% organic ingredients.