Germany diet: What the government's new nutrition strategy means

Created: 2022-12-25 07:08

By: Jana Ballweber

The federal government wants to give Germany a nutrition strategy.

Is the government going to be looking into people's fridges soon?

Berlin – The Germans eat too unhealthily.

Studies repeatedly show that they eat too little fruit and vegetables, and too much meat, sugar, fat and salt.

Many people, especially children and teenagers, are overweight.

The government wants to enable children in particular to eat healthier.

© IMAGO/Oksana Nazarchuk

This is not only at the expense of health, but also harms the climate.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany can be traced back to the food sector.

Nutrition strategy: Government wants healthier food for Germany

In order to change this situation, Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) drew up a key issues paper that was approved by the cabinet in mid-December.

It is intended to determine what the nutrition strategy that the federal government wants to adopt by the end of 2023 should look like.

In his paper, Özdemir's ministry explains which problem area should be addressed politically and by what means, so that food in Germany becomes healthier, more climate-friendly and affordable.

New nutrition strategy in Germany: Healthy food for children and young people

So do consumers have to fear that the ministry will look into their fridges?

Of course not.

The paper does not rely on bans or similar means to achieve the goals.

Rather, Özdemir wants to create the political framework to make it easier for people to eat healthily.

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My space

Especially in canteens and canteens, the food should become healthier and more sustainable.

© IMAGO/Pedro Granadeiro

A key point of the strategy is to target children and young people.

According to the ministry, they often do not have the decision about their diet in their own hands.

They are dependent on the eating habits of the parents – and also on their wallets.

Healthy eating is often expensive.

Germany diet: Nutrition strategy calls for healthy school meals for children

To counteract this, all students should have access to healthy school meals - regardless of their parents' income.

Canteens and canteens, not only in schools, should offer more regional products.

The recommendations of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) play a special role here.

Below:

• Three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day

• More whole grains

• Avoid large amounts of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, animal foods and alcohol

• 1.5 liters of water or unsweetened tea per day

• Gentle preparation of the food

• Eat varied and in peace

Özdemir wants to limit advertising for unhealthy foods aimed at children and young people.

At the same time, educational opportunities and better information about food should make it easier for people to eat healthily and in an environmentally friendly way.

Nutrition strategy: Germany should eat less meat

Plant products should be an important building block for climate-friendly nutrition, since too few people eat vegetarian or vegan food and German meat consumption is well above the recommendations.

According to Özdemir's paper, this is particularly bad for the climate.

In the future, more attention should also be paid to sustainability in the production of food.

Özdemir wants to promote ecological agriculture and reduce food waste.

The paper does not yet contain a precise plan on how these goals are to be achieved.

Many are hoping for more concrete proposals when the nutrition strategy is complete by the end of 2023.

(Jana Ballweber)