Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, calls on Twitter for meat consumption and defends himself against alleged prohibition policies.
Munich – The German Nutrition Society (DGE) plans to significantly reduce its recommendation for daily meat consumption. This is evident from reports in the Lebensmittelzeitung and Bild. These recommendations are apparently to be incorporated into the Federal Government's new food strategy. There are no prohibitions or the like. However, the DGE would be stricter in awarding certain certificates to canteens for healthy eating. Meat consumption in the population is "too high overall for health and sustainable reasons". The DGE recommends a "plant-based diet with low meat consumption" to reduce the risk of the most common causes of death.
Hubert Aiwanger, chairman of the Free Voters and Minister of Economic Affairs of Bavaria, does not think much of the plans of the DGE and raises serious allegations. "Eat meat!" he demands on Twitter in response. "The 'German Society for Nutrition' should be renamed the 'German Society for Malnutrition' if it seriously recommends eating only 10 grams of meat per day. Do you want to starve us like after the war?"
Aiwanger (Free Voters) pleads for meat consumption
For Aiwanger, meat is not only an important food, but also an identity-forming factor and also essential for the economy in Bavaria. Earlier, he had expressed himself on Twitter as follows: "Eat meat, butter and drink milk and make sure that domestic agriculture has a future with animal husbandry! Alpine meadows are not cared for and preserved by greens and wolves, but by cows and mountain farmers! Common sense instead of malnutrition!" The day before, similar thoughts came into Aiwanger's head: "Eat meat, build houses, start families, preserve the homeland!" it says on his Twitter account.
Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) is committed to meat consumption. (Archive photo) © Lino Mirgeler/dpa
Meat is becoming a political issue
The issue of meat is apparently very important to conservative parties. In addition to the Free Voters, the CDU/CSU parties, among others, are also complaining about alleged "green paternalism" and bans.
In May, the case of Silke Gorißen (CDU) caused a nationwide sensation. The Minister of Education of North Rhine-Westphalia had been visiting the canteen of the University of Bonn, where a so-called veggie month was running. "Those who eat healthily and sustainably also help with climate protection. Everyone should decide for themselves to what extent they eat exclusively meatless," she said via Twitter. Criticism was quickly voiced in her own party. According to Welt, Gorißen felt so pressured by colleagues that she had to make a commitment to eating meat.
Voters in Bavaria are apparently well received by Aiwanger, Söder and Co. with their love of meat. About four months before the state elections in Bavaria, the CSU and the Free Voters together achieve more than 50 percent of the vote in polls. Aiwanger hopes for a continuation of the coalition between the CSU and the Free Voters. (LRG
)
