For many people in Germany, climate and environmental aspects have an influence on the decision of what to put on the table. At least that was the case a few months ago, as the new “Nutrition Report” shows. Will rising food prices change everything?
Above all, food should taste delicious. People in Germany agree on that: 99 percent of those questioned in this year’s “Nutrition Report” by the Federal Ministry of Food and Nutrition stated that what matters most to them when it comes to food is taste.
According to the survey presented on Monday, the health aspect of food is important for 89 percent of those surveyed. And climate and environmental aspects also play an important role for many people in Germany when it comes to eating. Or played? Because rising food prices since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have an impact on what people in Germany put on their plates. This has not yet been taken into account in the report.
Consumption of meat and sausages is falling
With around 84 percent, a clear majority of the people surveyed for the “Nutrition Report” at the end of February and beginning of March finds the consideration of effects on the climate and environment in nutrition very important (36 percent) or important (48 percent) – regardless of gender or age . According to those surveyed, this can be implemented by reducing food waste and buying regional products. As the report shows, the daily consumption of meat and sausages has also fallen since the surveys began seven years ago. Only a quarter of those surveyed eat them every day (2015: 34 percent; 2022: 25 percent).
On the other hand, vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes are more popular. Compared to the previous year, more people have bought such products at least once (2021: 43 percent; 2022: 47 percent). Curiosity (75 percent) dominates the reasons for the purchase. But the proportion of those who do this for animal welfare reasons has increased significantly compared to 2021 (2021: 59 percent; 2022: 71 percent). There has also been a significant increase in the motivation to buy a product for environmental and climate protection reasons (2021: 54 percent; 2022: 64 percent).
The data from the Federal Statistical Office underscores the trend: in 2021, 98,000 tons of food were produced in Germany that replaced meat or meat products with plant-based alternatives, as the authority announced at the beginning of May. An increase of 17 percent.
Animal welfare is important to consumers
According to the nutrition report, 44 percent of those surveyed eat flexitarian food, i.e. occasionally eat meat. Another 7 percent eat vegetarian and 1 percent eat vegan. Furthermore, many respondents state that they pay attention to the husbandry conditions of animals (80 percent), fair trade (76 percent), environmentally friendly and resource-saving production (73 percent) and organic production (72 percent).
For 87 percent of those surveyed, mandatory animal husbandry labeling is important (34 percent) or even very important (53 percent). Consumers would also be willing to pay more for more animal welfare, as the report shows.
Since 2015, the Ministry of Food has published the Nutrition Report every year, highlighting the eating and shopping habits of people in Germany. 1000 people in the Federal Republic were surveyed from the end of February to the beginning of March this year. However: The changes in purchasing and consumer behavior due to the price increases since the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine could not yet be measured at the time of the survey, it was said.
Food inflation is a problem
But the changes cannot be dismissed out of hand. Food has recently become significantly more expensive, according to the Federal Statistical Office, prices rose by 12.7 percent in June. And this development is likely to continue in the coming weeks and months. This has consequences: A survey by the German Institute for Food Technology (DIL) in Quakenbrück and the Lower Saxony state initiative for the food industry showed, for example, at the end of June that those surveyed pay particular attention to special offers or cheap groceries when shopping. For some people, climate and environmental protection aspects have taken a back seat, it said. In contrast, during the corona pandemic, the sustainability aspects in particular were much more important for many people.
Retail is also noticing that the shopping behavior of many people has changed drastically in recent months. In the first five months of this year alone, according to figures from market researcher GfK at the beginning of July, supermarkets recorded a four percent drop in sales. According to GfK, special offers are used more often, people shop more often at discounters and instead of branded items, retail chains’ own brands are often in the shopping cart. The market researchers observed that one or two purchases are simply avoided in order to save money.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
