Food has the potential to stir up fears and prejudices. For example, when right-wing extremist circles claim that an elite wants to force citizens to eat insects. Nutrition has become political. For example, when CSU leader Marcus Söder accuses the Greens of wanting to spoil the Germans’ appetite for schnitzel, currywurst and roast pork and of patronising the citizens. Carnivores versus herbivores: The dispute over nutrition is sometimes emotionally charged.
Federal Food Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) does not want to take part. There should be no culture war over foodhe said on Tuesday in Berlin at the launch of the Nutrition Reports 2024. Politicians’ campaigns about right and wrong food are the wrong approach.
Citizens wanted real Freedom of choice, transparency and good qualityThe food industry, agriculture and consumers are already much further ahead in the development of nutrition than some culture warriors would have us believe. “The food culture continues to evolve”said the minister.
65
Percent of respondents pay attention to the animal welfare label
Desire for more transparency
Since 2015, the ministry has published the annual nutrition report “Germany, how it eats”, for which the opinion research institute Forsa surveys around 1,000 citizens aged 14 and over. According to the current report, German citizens want as detailed information as possible about the foodthat they buy.
Özdemir referred to the Market power of consumerswhich could have a major impact in the fight against food waste as well as in animal welfare and nutritional quality.
The various labels played a greater role in purchasing decisions than in previous years, said the Green politician. According to the Forsa survey, consumers now pay more attention to almost twice as many people as in 2015 when shopping for animal welfare labels: their number has increased from 36 percent to 65 percent.
97
Percent of women value healthy eating
The share of EU organic labels rose from 47 to 59 percent. At 39 percent, significantly more people also buy “often” vegetarian or vegan alternatives to animal products. In 2020, this figure was 29 percent. Özdemir pointed out that this is often not based on ideology, but is a result of consumer curiosity.
Women find healthy eating particularly important
The answer to the question of what is (very) important to people when eating is constant: Since 2015, 98 or 99 percent have answered “good taste” (2024: 99 percent). The criterion “healthy” traditionally ranks second with 89 to 92 percent each (2024: 91 percent). At 97 percent, women attach significantly more importance to a healthy diet than men (85 percent).
There is a great need for action. In Germany, around 15 percent of children are overweightsome of them as obese. Obesity and diet-related diseases are also a major problem in adults. Scientists and doctors believe that there is a strong connection between cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some types of cancer and eating habits.
Sugar content of beverages
According to the nutrition report, more than four fifths of respondents (85 percent) are in favor of less sugar being added to ready-made foods. Seven percent believe that the lack of sweetness should be compensated for by sweeteners. Six percent do not want any changes.
In this context, Özdemir also referred to the Sugar content of beverages“We know that, for example, soft drinks of the exact same brand have different recipes and sugar content in different countries and they don’t sell any worse there,” said Özdemir. “I don’t believe that the taste buds of Germans are completely different to those in Great Britain, for example.”
71 percent of respondents said Fruit and vegetables at least once a day Dairy products such as yoghurt or cheese are on the daily menu for 62 percent. That is four percentage points more than in 2023. For meat or sausage, there is hardly any change compared to the previous year, at 23 percent. However, since the survey began, Fewer and fewer people eat meat or sausage every dayIn 2015, the figure was 34 percent, eleven percentage points more than currently. (KNA)
