Germans are eating more regional food, less meat - survey

The eating habits of German consumers are increasingly favouring greater climate protection, sustainability and less waste, according to a new survey published Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Among the main takeaways of the BMEL’s 2021 Nutrition Report: Germans are buying more regional groceries and less meat. “Shopping more consciously, supporting regional producers and doing something to protect the climate: this has become more important for many," said federal food and agriculture minister Julia Klöckner. Of the 1,000 consumers surveyed by research institute Forsa for the BMEL report, 82 percent said regional origin continued to play an important role in their food selection, while 86 percent said the regionality of products was especially important when it comes to fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs. The survey also found that ever fewer people are eating meat: 26 percent eat meat and meat products daily – a drop of 8 percent compared to 2015; 8 percent of respondents also said they consume meat substitutes at least once a day. The proportion of vegetarians and vegans has increased to 10 and 2 percent, respectively.

Overall, Klöckner said German consumers had “high social expectations of agriculture. This is also shown by the results of our report -- more environmental and climate protection, more animal welfare. That is why we are setting the political framework for competitive and at the same time sustainable agriculture in Germany and also in Europe." Germany’s Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has said Germany needs to cut meat consumption by half in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that the agricultural reform currently being discussed in the EU needs to include the reduction of factory farming.