Özdemir goes off with "junk" allegations on discounters - Aldi and Kaufland are reacting now

Created: 12/31/2021, 10:50 AM

Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir accused German food markets of "junk prices".

(Archive image) © Christoph Hardt / Imago

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is criticized for his statement on dumping prices for food.

The addressees are now defending themselves.

Berlin - The new Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir (Greens), who came into office somewhat surprisingly, kicked off a debate about reasonable food prices in Germany: In an interview he criticized the "junk prices" for food - and thus attacked German supermarkets such as Kaufland or Aldi.

But the companies counter.

Özdemir accuses Aldi, Edeka and Co. of "junk prices"

"There must be no more junk prices for food, they are driving farms into ruin, preventing more animal welfare, promoting species extinction and polluting the climate," said the Green politician of

. He wants to work to ensure that food is just as valued in Germany as cars. “Sometimes I have the feeling that a good engine oil is more important to us than a good salad oil. I want more appreciation for our farmers, ”emphasized Özdemir.

At a kilo price of 3.98 euros, minced meat certainly cannot come from happy animals - and the farming families can hardly make a living from it either.

“Food must not become a luxury good.

But the price must express the ecological truth more strongly, ”declared the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture.

He therefore has three goals: "A secure and good income for our farmers, healthy food for all of us and more animal welfare, climate and environmental protection."

Criticism of Özdemir: “People don't dictate what they eat” - Kaufland and Aldi respond

Now there is criticism of the 56-year-old: CSU boss Markus Söder said the federal government was “not there to tell people what or how much they should eat”. After Özdemir's initiative, social associations also demanded that poorer people not be burdened excessively with rising food prices. The ministry then made it clear that it was not about state price regulation, but about "appreciation" for food.

But even the sellers of the "junk price" products do not want to sit on them: As the

reports, a spokesman for Aldi said that the company’s aim was to “offer our customers high quality at the best possible price at all times”. .

The group recalled the basic concepts of the market economy: The Aldi purchase prices “basically follow the market economy principle of supply and demand”.

Aldi and Kaufland defend food prices: Inexpensive thanks to "lean structures"

We can also offer our products so cheaply because, as a discounter, we buy in large quantities, we can fall back on very lean structures and have a select range, ”Aldi continued to defend its prices.

In addition, the company has already taken measures to increase animal welfare.

When asked by the

,

Kaufland also replied

that food prices were geared towards “supply and demand as well as competition”.

A spokesman announced that the company took responsibility for people, animals and the environment, had taken “various measures” at an early stage and was promoting better housing conditions.

For example, farmers received “additional remuneration in the form of an animal welfare bonus and a feed bonus for GMO-free feeding”.