Julia Klöckner (CDU) is fooled by Anne Will for Nestlé video

Many considered the Nestlé video with nutrition minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) to be an “advertising clip”. Now there is ridicule from political talker Anne Will.

Update of June 11, 8:30 p.m .: After the scandal of a controversial clip with the food company Nestlé, Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner has to endure mockery - now TV talkmaster Anne Will has teased the CDU politician on Twitter.

The occasion was a report on the fertilizer regulation. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) condemned Germany last year because the federal government did not take sufficient action against the high nitrate content in groundwater, which is mainly caused by fertilizers. Therefore, high fines now threaten. The EU Commission did not go far enough to tighten the fertilizer regulation for the first time. And there is still an agreement between Klöckner and Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD).

"Can Nestlé help?" Will tweeted shortly. A swipe at Klöckner's apparently great proximity to the group, and possibly also at the quality of Nestlé products. This is how at least some users understood it: One user responded to the post with this counter question: "Huh, should they fertilize with Nespresso?"

Can # Nestlé help? # Manure # fertilizer regulation # 850000EuroproTag https://t.co/iDEsfdXNmI

There are now clear announcements not only from the EU, but also from the Chancellor: Both ministers should be invited to the Federal Chancellery on Tuesday to clarify open issues together, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported. Meanwhile, Anne Wills Talk will deal with the condition of the GroKo on a thematically appropriate basis.

Nestlé video: CDU politicians jump in Klöckner - media agency checks controversial clip

Update of June 9, 2:45 p.m .: Federal Food Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) has received support from her own ranks for her controversial video with the food company Nestlé. The minister may have posted this "in exuberance of joy because she has persuaded a large corporation to offer healthier products," said Alois Gerig (CDU), chair of the Bundestag Committee on Food and Agriculture, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS).

He found it "not reprehensible as long as no ulterior motives play a role in his own advantage," said Gerig. And he could rule that out at Klöckner. He also does not consider the clip as an advertisement for Nestlé, said the CDU politician. After all, there are no products from the group to be seen. Rather, the video is a "message to the industry" that it can also be done voluntarily.

The ministry had already posted the clip on Monday in the short message service Twitter. In this, Klöckner thanks the Nestlé Germany boss Marc-Aurel Boersch for supporting the group in their initiative to reduce sugar, fats and salt in food. Klöckner has been exposed to harsh criticism since Wednesday.

The SPD nutrition expert Ursula Schulte told the FAS that she felt "snubbed" by Klöckner's video. The clip "borders on advertising". There is also the question of why other and smaller companies that are also involved in the reduction strategy do not have their say. Schulte said that it was part of the minister's job to speak to companies. "But there is a difference between having such conversations and publishing them online in this way."

The video is currently being checked by the Berlin-Brandenburg Media Institute. "We first want to hear what happened there," a spokeswoman for the AFP news agency said on Thursday. Therefore, the authority wants to talk to the Ministry about the background of the video.

The ministry confirmed that the media agency had requested an appointment. "We will respond to this request," said a spokeswoman. At the same time, Klöckner's department emphasized that it was necessary to speak to associations and companies and to "take them on board".

The message of origin: "Promotional video" with Nestlé - Massive criticism of Minister of Food Klöckner

Munich - The Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner is exposed to outrage. It has been criticized for months because it is too close to the agricultural industry. Now her video is doomed, which her ministry posted on Twitter.

Nestlé boss Boersch and Klöckner in intimate agreement

In the video she presents herself with the German Nestlé boss Marc-Aurel Boersch. She talked to him about the "Nestlé philosophy". Klöckner: "I have learned a lot of new things today and I am pleased that we have support for our innovation and reduction strategy. Less sugar, less salt, less fat in the products that citizens like."

Less # sugar, fats and # salt in finished products - that's what BMin @JuliaKloeckner is doing with the #Reduction | s and #Innovation strategy.

@NestleGermany, who support the strategy, shows that this is possible. You have reduced 10% of the content; another 5% are to follow. pic.twitter.com/jLpVSHRoyJ

The smiling Nestlé boss replies: "We are very, very happy to support the minister's reformulation strategy." This nods to him with delight. Boersch explains that his company has reduced the sugar, salt and fat content of their products by ten percent. Boersch continues: “Are we satisfied with this? No. I think it has to go faster ”. Then Klöckner smiles with satisfaction.

Minister of Food Klöckner publishes video on Twitter - and upset users

Under the hashtag #nestle, the video quickly turned many Twitter users against Klöckner. They criticize their uncritical handling of the food company and accuse them of being misused for PR purposes. Among the critics are federal politicians: SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach tweeted: "The process is embarrassing, yes bitter." The CDU woman let Nestlé "first negotiate the sugar tax and the traffic lights" - and is now appearing at a PR event with the company, he complained.

Process is embarrassing, yes bitter. Klöckner first negotiates the sugar tax and the traffic lights with Nestle lobbyists and then appears at the PR event of Nestle, a group that still makes profit in Africa by selling drinking water to the poorest https://t.co/tS2fGE8n2R

Green Group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt also spoke of an “advertising video” for Nestlé and at the same time listed Klöckner's omissions. One Twitter user described her as Nestlé's “Employee of the Month”, while another asked: “Why does Nestlé only achieve a 5 percent (sugar) reduction in Germany and 50 percent in the UK? Can that be due to a sugar tax? I do not know."

What the
Minister of Food could do: ❌ Introduce a
traffic light ❌ Determine specific sugar, fat & salt reduction targets ❌
Establish clear rules for food advertising aimed at children

What the
Minister of Food does: ✅ Shoot a promotional video for Nestle

‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️ https: //t.co/e5055XZaL1

We congratulate you on the well-deserved title. #Nestle # Klöckner pic.twitter.com/np1FVzeFaH

Why does #Nestle only achieve a 5% reduction in Germany and 50% in the UK?
Can that be due to a sugar tax? I don't know pic.twitter.com/9f3zLFZDgZ

After criticism of video: Minister of Food Klöckner reacted defensively

Klöckner responded defensively to the criticism. "To the Hatespeaker, because I spoke to Nestlé: Read my own demands # sugar reduction! It is a success that companies are implementing our goals for better food. First assume that nothing happens. Then go crazy when you achieve something. "

To the Hatespeaker, because I spoke to Nestlé: Read my own demands # sugar reduction! It is a success that companies are implementing our goals for better food. First assume that nothing happens. Then go crazy when you achieve something

When a user accuses her of not recognizing a critical discussion with the controversial company, she adds: "Jeez, it is also too nice and easy to depict politicians as the last fools and knock out demands without really seriously differentiating on the subject. People, democracy doesn't work that way. " Klöckner's pondering answers are also criticized by many users. "This is how the CDU will definitely win back the youth," writes one.

Everyone:

Klöckner: #Nestle is the hottest club in the world!

Everyone: It's advertising, isn't it?

Klöckner: hatspeaker!

Everyone: Besides, Nestle is not that great, on the contrary! Here [hundreds of links].

Klöckner: A factual discussion is impossible on this social internet.

Klöckner's Ministry responds to allegations: "We understand your arguments"

Her department, on the other hand, posted a more diplomatic response to the reactions. "We understand your arguments," said the official account of the Ministry of Agriculture. "And at the same time, it is important to us that healthier food goes ahead - less #sugar, #fat, #salt. We see that the big ones are responsible!"

The large concern Nestlé is accused of questionable business, for example the privatization of drinking water in developing countries. Greenpeace accused the company of accelerating the destruction of the rainforest by using palm oil in its products. The company has promised to only use sustainable palm oil by 2020.

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In a new poll, the Greens are on par with the CDU / CSU. Habeck is more popular than AKK when it comes to the next chancellor. The farmers in Germany also criticize Minister Klöckner's politics - at the end of November thousands of them come to Berlin for a protest star trip. A little later, Julia Klöckner's Ministry flies a campaign.