What can be done to ensure more clarity when purchasing food, more space in the stables and more healthier food? Ideas that do not come from experts or associations are discussed in Parliament.
Meal offerings for all children, new labels for food, no more VAT on fruit and vegetables: The Bundestag is today debating the recommendations of the first Citizens’ Assembly on nutrition. The committee appointed by parliament with 160 members presented a “citizens’ report” in February.
Among other things, it is proposed to offer free lunch in all daycare centers and schools. The nine recommendations adopted are not binding for the Bundestag. The debate in the plenary session will be followed by committee deliberations.
The consumer advice centers welcomed the fact that the Citizens’ Assembly had made it possible to contribute opinions and experiences. The head of the federal association, Ramona Pop, told the dpa: “This is important because that is what democracy is all about.” These cross-societal communication processes could help to overcome divides and set the necessary course in food and agricultural policy.
Animal welfare tax and abolition of VAT
The members of the Bundestag should address the good ideas of the Citizens’ Assembly. These included an animal welfare tax and the abolition of VAT on vegetables, fruit and legumes. “Healthy eating shouldn’t depend on your wallet.”
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) encouraged the Citizens’ Assembly to have open discussions at the opening in autumn. The participants were randomly selected. In total they formulated nine recommendations:
Free lunch in daycare centers and schools
Children: Free lunch should be offered to all children in daycare centers and schools – to be implemented gradually in eight years at the latest, starting with the youngest children and at least half financed by the federal government. It should also be encouraged that a third of the food used is organic. To finance this, money from other funding programs or child benefit increases could also be reallocated.
Labeling: In order to make conscious shopping easier, a government label should be introduced as mandatory as possible. “You should be able to tell in three seconds whether the food is safe,” says the recommendation. The areas of climate protection, animal welfare and health should be taken into account individually, for example with the content of sugar, fat, salt and additives. The label should be on the front of the pack.
Donate food instead of throwing it away
Food waste: Supermarkets with sales space of 400 square meters or more should be obliged to pass on edible products that would otherwise go into the trash to non-profit organizations such as food banks and for charitable purposes. Otherwise, the shops will face fines.
Animal husbandry: A mandatory “animal welfare label” should be introduced for meat of all animal species and should cover the entire life cycle – including birth, rearing, keeping, transport and slaughter. The respective federal state would also have to be stated for all stations. The proposal therefore goes beyond an already decided state animal husbandry logo. According to the recommendation, this should also apply to fish and fish products.
Taxes: VAT should be eliminated for, among other things, organic fruit and vegetables from the EU, for legumes such as peas and lentils, for nuts, whole grains, mineral and table water. Sugar should no longer be considered a staple food and should be taxed at the full rate of 19 percent. If planned price increases to finance better animal husbandry (animal welfare tax) do not come about, the reduced VAT rate of 7 percent should apply to meat from better husbandry and organic meat.
Healthy nutrition in care facilities
Community catering: Healthy and balanced nutrition should be available in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics and care facilities. All nursing homes should be required to at least adhere to the quality standards of the German Nutrition Society. Social insurance should ensure that costs are covered by the service providers and that nutrition is adequately financed.
Animal welfare tax: There should be a dedicated “consumption tax” for animal products in order to finance the conversion of animal husbandry – this has been discussed for years. The following should apply: the better the husbandry, the higher the premium for the farmers. The tax should be higher for products from lower husbandry levels than for meat from better husbandry.
Warnings on energy drinks
Teenagers: There should be an age limit of at least 16 years when purchasing energy drinks. The packaging should contain clearly colored warnings that draw attention to the health risks of ingredients such as caffeine or taurine.
Monitoring: More staff should be available for food inspections, also through better working conditions. Results of checks from field to fork should be clearly visible to the public on notice boards.
Source: Stern
