Read more: Supermarket Chain REWE ‘To Open All-Vegan Store’

Lidl made the announcement at a protein transition event it hosted in Berlin last week, reports Vegconomist. It said that sales had risen since it created price parity between meat and plant-based alternatives in October 2023. As part of its effort to encourage customers to choose plant-based, it also began placing vegan products next to animal-based versions in stores.

Lidl has been at the forefront of the transition to plant-based protein among major food retailers. In February 2023 it announced it would reduce the amount of animal products it sells while expanding its vegan range. Lidl’s chief buyer Christoph Graf said at the time that there is “no alternative” if we going to “feed ourselves within planetary limits.”

Healthier and more sustainable

Lidl launched its own-brand plant-based range Vemondo across Europe in 2021. It includes around 50 products such as oat milk, pizza, cheese, tofu, and mince. Lidl says the products are carbon neutral. In 2022, Vemondo won PETA’s Vegan Food Award for Best Vegan Private Label.

Read more: Lidl Named Cheapest UK Supermarket To Buy Vegan Christmas Food

As well as lowering prices for plant-based alternatives, Lidl maintains low prices for fruits and vegetables as part of its Healthy Eating Pledge. It aims to increase sales of fresh fruit and veg by 35 percent by 2026.

Change in Germany

Germany is a fitting location for an event – which included politicians, businesspeople, and scientists – focused on transitioning to sustainable sources of protein. The country’s newly published dietary guidelines recommend that people eat at least 75 percent plant-based. The German government also recently committed millions of euros to help boost development of plant-based proteins.

Read more: Tesco Says It’s In Its ‘Second Phase’ Of Plant-Based Growth

Meat eating has hit a record low in Germany, with around 10 percent of people living there now thought to follow a vegetarian diet. In addition, around 55 percent of the population identify as “flexitarian,” meaning they already mostly eat plant-based foods.

The post Lidl Announces Huge Increase In Plant-Based Food Sales appeared first on Plant Based News.

Read more: EU Making Animal Diets ‘Artificially Cheap’ With Subsidies, Report Finds

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE), or the German Nutrition Society, developed the new guidelines using a mathematical model that takes both sustainability and health into account. The guidelines include a “nutrition circle,” depicting each food by optimal amount.

According to the updated guidelines, a “healthy and environmentally friendly diet” is at least 75 percent plant-based. This is in keeping with a growing body of research that confirms plant foods are better for human health, the planet, and animals.

While the guidance has been celebrated by some, there has been some disappointment that it hasn’t gone further with its plant-based recommendation.

Read more: Meat-Eaters Prefer Not To See Animals On Meat Labels, Research Finds

Germany’s updated nutrition guidelines: less animal products, more plants

The new guidelines have reduced the recommended number of daily servings for dairy from three to two and advise that meat products – beef, pork, poultry, and sausage – should be limited to a maximum of 300g per week, plus 240g of fish.

(For context, the average American eats nearly a kilogram of red meat alone per week.)

In contrast, DGE’s updated guidelines suggest around 550g of fruit and vegetables per day, along with plenty of legumes – a first for the guide – along with nuts, seeds, potatoes, and other carbs. The guide also suggests emphasizing color, seasonality, and variety overall.

For people following a vegetarian or entirely plant-based diet, DGE suggests eating more of these key food groups in place of traditional meat and replacing dairy products with plant-based alternatives plus calcium, B12, and iodine supplementation.

Read more: Video Claiming Raw Milk Heals Lactose Intolerance Flagged As ‘False Information’

Most Germans already eating plant-forward diets

Meat eating has hit a record low in Germany, and it’s thought that around 10 percent of people living there now follow a vegetarian diet. In addition, over half (around 55 percent) of the population identify as “flexitarian,” meaning they already mostly eat plant-based foods.

“Germany really has fallen out of love with meat,” Anna-Lena Klapp, senior nutrition and health specialist at ProVeg International, told PBN. “It is an important and proper step that the DGE has decided to integrate both health and ecological aspects into its recommendations and to emphasize plant-based foods over animal-based foods.”

“However, the German guidelines still do not include plant-based alternatives,” continued Klapp. “FBDGs should help identify which plant-based alternative products can and cannot be part of a sustainable healthy diet.”

The updated guidelines undoubtedly emphasize plant foods – and recognize the impact of animal products – but they also still encourage the consumption of meat and dairy. In addition to including specific plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy, the guide also needs to recognize the true potential of low-impact plant-based staples like legumes to play a greater role in a sustainable and equitable food system.

“Structural changes are also needed so that people make healthier, more sustainable food choices,” added Klapp. “The German government has recognized that policies to encourage the growth of the plant-based industry, investment in research and innovation of alternative protein products, and incentives for farmers to move away from meat and dairy production are among the actions urgently needed to avoid climate breakdown.”

The post Eat At Least 75% Plant-Based Foods, Say Germany’s New Dietary Guidelines appeared first on Plant Based News.

Named REWE Voll Pflanzlich, which loosely translates to “REWE completely plant-based,” the new store will be the first of its kind from the brand. REWE is the second-largest food retailer in the country with approximately 3,300 locations nationwide.

The shop front of the new store – located on Warschauer Straße, in the east Berlin district of popular tourist destination Friedrichshain – was previously home to the trailblazing plant-based supermarket Veganz, which closed in 2023 so the company could focus on product manufacturing.

The news of REWE’s new store was first shared on Supermarketblog, which noted that while a trademark registration for the name REWE Voll Pflanzlich has not yet taken place, the new shop front was temporarily visible to passersby during renovation work.

Germany embraces plant-based foods

REWE reportedly declined to comment on the news, but the brand has increasingly catered to customers shopping for plant-based items over the last few years. REWE has even introduced a dedicated vegan meat counter and stocked service counters with plant-based options.

Germany currently has the highest rate of vegetarianism in Europe and over 1.5 million vegans, in addition to half the population – over 40 million people – who describe themselves as flexitarian or are otherwise cutting back on animal products. In fact, just 20 percent of Germans still consume meat daily, a record-breaking change in dietary habits.

The German government itself has even promised an investment of USD $41 million (€38 million) for the promotion of vegan foods and alternative proteins such as precision fermented, cell-cultivated, and plant-based meats, in order to protect the environment.

Science definitively backs a reduction in meat and dairy planetary and personal health as well as a more sustainable – and equitable – food system. The animal agriculture industry is responsible for at least 16.5 percent of GHG emissions, along with extensive deforestation, biodiversity loss, water use, and pollution.

ProVeg, a food advocacy NGO, previously described the German government’s promise as “groundbreaking.” ProVeg International’s Strategic Director Jens Tuider commented that the German government is “setting the stage for a transformative shift in protein consumption.”

‘We want to make affordable, plant-based enjoyment possible’

While an all-vegan supermarket is a first for REWE under its own name, subsidiary brand BILLA has already opened two such stores in Vienna and Graz, Austria, and has extensive plant-based sections in at least 21 additional locations.

“We want to make affordable, plant-based enjoyment possible for all customers. Especially flexitarians, who are always integrating plant-based options into their diet,” said BILLA’s Head of Plant-Based Business Development Verena Wiederkehr in a release at the time.

Supermarkets are at the forefront when it comes to making plant-based foods more accessible, and there are an increasing number of private-label options to choose from.

According to V-Label, the world’s leading vegan and vegetarian trademark, it now certifies products for many major European retailers, including REWA and BILLA as well as Lidl, Aldi, Tesco, and SPAR, all of which have introduced or expanded their own plant-based ranges.

More like this:

• Aldi Introduces Major New Vegan Brand ‘MyVay’ In Germany
• Lidl Makes Vegan Food The Same Price As Meat Equivalents In Germany 
• Tesco Says It’s In Its ‘Second Phase’ Of Plant-Based Growth

The post Supermarket Chain REWE ‘To Open All-Vegan Store’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

The campaign, named Plant-Based For Everyone, will see menu items like the plant-based Whopper and vegan Long Chicken be reduced by 10 cents. Burger King has said that the move has received positive feedback from customers.

“We have been investing in meat free alternatives since the mid-1990s and have shown that fast food doesn’t always have to mean meat,” said Dr. Jörg Ehmer, CEO of Burger King Germany, as reported by Vegconomist. “As a pioneer, we offer the largest plant-based range in German system catering — and now with a price advantage. We are thus providing a strong impetus to try our plant-based options. Our aim is to offer guests a free choice — without compromising on taste.”

Burger King Germany announced a collaboration with The Vegetarian Butcher in August 2022, which saw its plant-based options more than double. The chain now offers a meat-free version of almost every item on the menu. In August last year, a company employee said that one in five Whoppers sold in Germany was plant-based.

Burger King embraces the meat-free market

While many of Burger King Germany’s menu items are plant-based, not all are suitable for vegans. Some (like the Cheesy Bacon Lover Plant-Based and the Plant-Based X-tra Long Chili Cheese) contain dairy, while others may be cooked on the same grill as meat. The Plant-Based Nuggets and the Plant-Based Long Chicken are certified as vegan.

Burger King Germany’s director of marketing Klaus Schmäing previously said that the “large group” they wanted to address was flexitarians. “But beyond that, of course, also vegetarians and vegans,” he added. 

Germany isn’t the only country where Burger King is catering to meat-free market. The chain has previously launched temporary entirely plant-based branches in countries including the UK, Portugal, Denmark, and Austria.

In the UK, Burger King plans to be 50 percent meat-free by 2030. The company has said that it made this decision in response to the country’s “growing demand for meatless alternatives and products with no animal protein.”

More like this:

• From McDonald’s To Taco Bell: The Ultimate Guide To Vegan Fast Food
• South Africa’s Fast Food Is Becoming More Plant-Based
• ‘Vegan McDonald’s’ That Sells $0.99 Burgers Expands In The US And Australia

The post Burger King Makes Plant-Based Food Cheaper Than Meat In Germany appeared first on Plant Based News.

Dr Zoe Mayer, an Alliance90/Green Party MP, announced the plan in mid-November. As a result, Germany will see a boost in funding for plant-based, precision-fermented, and cell-cultivated proteins in the 2024 budget.

With the environmental and health impacts of meat becoming ever harder to ignore, Germany is the latest country to invest heavily in the transition towards a plant-based future. In October, Denmark unveiled a roadmap to make its food system more plant-based. Meanwhile, the Swiss government has encouraged its citizens to reduce their meat consumption.

ProVeg, a food awareness organization, described the move as “groundbreaking.” Jens Tuider, Strategic Director of ProVeg International, said: “The German government is setting the stage for a transformative shift in protein consumption.”

A four-step plan for plant-based protein

The new investment in alternative proteins follows a Food and Nutrition Strategy released in December 2022 by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

In it, BMEL stated that the strategy’s primary goal was to “promote healthier, more resource-conserving and more plant-based dietary choices.” Now, with the new announcement, the German government is putting its money where its mouth is. 

Germany’s government outlined how it intends to fund the transition to a plant-based future in four steps:

1. Assisting in phasing out animal husbandry and transitioning to plant-based, fermented and cell-cultivated proteins for human consumption (€20 million)
2. Promoting innovative methods for the production and processing of plant-based, fermented, and cell-cultivated proteins (€10 million)
3. Promoting the production of proteins directly for human nutrition rather than animal feeds (€8 million)
4. Setting up a center to research future proteins and work with stakeholders

“This investment signifies a critical step forward,” Tuider said. “Thanks to this decision, we will finally be able to use proteins effectively in the future.

Prioritizing the switch towards a plant-based food system “puts Germany in an excellent position to maximize the opportunities offered by sustainable protein supply,” Tuider added. Consequently, this will allow Germany to “generate future-proof employment and establish leadership in innovation in a rapidly expanding global market.”

Germans have an appetite for plant-based proteins

Research has found that Germans are eating less meat than at any point since records began. Only 20 percent of Germans consume meat daily. Moreover, 46 percent of people are consciously limiting their meat intake.

To cater to this growing demand for vegan alternatives, farmers in the German state of Lower Saxony were recently offered incentives to move away from pig farming.

Germany would be an unsurprising pioneer of a plant-based future. The country has consistently been voted as one of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world. Indeed, Berlin has long been ranked as Europe’s vegan capital, with hundreds of vegan restaurants sprawling across the capital.

Young people are at the forefront of the growth of veganism in Germany, with a rising awareness of the environmental and ethical problems of meat consumption.

More like this:

• Meat-Eating In Germany Hits A Record Low
• Starbucks Germany Just Dropped Its Vegan Milk Surcharge
• Denmark Unveils ‘Groundbreaking’ Plant-Based Food Roadmap

The post Germany Unveils ‘Groundbreaking’ Investment In Plant-Based Food appeared first on Plant Based News.

This will mean that most of the Vemondo range will be given a lower price. The products will also be located close to meat in-store, making it easier for consumers to select them as an alternative. 

“With the price adjustment of our Vemondo products, we want to invite customers more to try out the plant-based alternatives – without the price being the decisive criterion,” said Christoph Graf, Lidl Germany head of merchandising, in a statement. 

Vemondo features a range of vegan products, including mince, milk, yogurt, and ice cream. It was established in 2020 in response to growing demand for plant-based food. It can now be found in Lidl stores in a number of countries in the world. 

Lidl praised by plant-based groups

The move has been celebrated by Pro Veg, a food awareness group aiming to reduce meat consumption. “ProVeg welcomes this move by Lidl as it recognises how important plant-based foods are in tackling the climate crisis as well as supporting companies’ in their environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting,” said Jasmijn de Boo, CEO of ProVeg International, in a statement. “Price is a key lever in nudging people to transition to a more plant-based diet, particularly in times when household budgets are being squeezed. Lidl’s strategy will help the growing number of consumers who want to eat less meat to choose plant-based alternatives instead. 

Lidl embraces plant-based

This isn’t the first time Lidl has taken tangible steps to embrace plant-based living. In February 2023, the budget retailer announced that it would be reducing meat in its German stores. The decision was in line with its plan to dramatically increase its meat-free range. 

In a statement at the time, Graf said that “we need a more conscious diet all over the world to feed ourselves within our planetary limits.

He went on to add that there was “no alternative” to Lidl’s meat reduction as there is “no second planet.”

Animal agriculture is a hugely environmentally destructive industry. It’s responsible for at least 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s also driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Experts from bodies like the UN and the University of Oxford have stated that we need to dramatically reduce meat consumption to help combat these issues. 

Plant-based eating in Germany

Lidl Germany’s move towards plant-based food comes amid rapidly increasing popularity of meat-free eating in the country. 

In June of this year, it was reported that meat eating had hit a record low in Germany. Government figures found that meat consumption dropped to 52kg per person in 2022, the lowest since calculations began in 1989. Five years previously, the amount had been 61kg.

It’s thought that around 10 percent of Germans follow a vegetarian diet. Over half (around 55 percent) of the population also identify as “flexitarian,” meaning they mostly avoid meat. 

Since Lidl made the announcement it had reduced vegan prices, another budget supermarket also made a similar move. Hypermarket Kaufland announced that it would be making more than 90 of its plant-based products a similar price to (or cheaper than) meat. 

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• Vegan Meat Brand THIS Secures Investment From ITV
• You Can Now Buy The ‘World’s First’ 3D Printed Vegan Salmon Filet

The post Lidl Makes Vegan Food The Same Price As Meat Equivalents In Germany appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Agricultural Investment Promotion Program (AFP), administered through the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, accepts funding applications from farmers seeking support for their business. New rules means that pig farmers who reduce their pig herds or quit pig farming altogether will have preferential access to funding.

“Pig farming companies are currently experiencing great economic uncertainty – not least due to the falling demand for pork,” said Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte in a statement (translated from German). “I would therefore like to help companies willing to change to build alternative bases. With the AFP, we are now implementing another important component of our diversification program.” 

Funding applications will be ranked using a point system according to the proportion of the pig-keeping capacity that will be dismantled. Farmers wanting to reduce capacity by at least half will be awarded five points on their application, while those wanting to completely exit pig farming will receive 10 points.

The AFP also has a focus on environmental and climate protection, as well as improving housing for farmed animals.

“This is a great example of creating a just transition for livestock farmers, which will be essential to ensure shifts to lower-meat more plant-based diets are fair for everyone,” said Martin Bowman, Senior Policy and Campaigns Manager at Feedback, on Linkedin. “A template for Europe to follow.”

The state of German pig farming

Lower Saxony has long been a huge pig meat producer, providing a third of all pork in Germany. At the end of 2022, the state had 7.1 million pigs – though that is lowest number in a decade. 

The sector has been allowed to balloon over the past few decades, but now the environmental costs are becoming too severe to ignore. Local waterways are becoming seriously polluted from the spreading of excess manure on agricultural land. Ammonia levels in South Oldenburg have been found to be more than twice environmentally safe upper limits.

Falling demand for pork, low prices, and export bans from China based on outbreaks in Germany of African Swine Fever have forced the sector to contract. Efforts to tackle environmental degradation and climate emissions such as the new AFP funding rules will help to shrink it further.

Many pigs in Germany are farmed intensively. One former butcher and food inspector described the conditions as “catastrophic.”

Veganism on the rise in Germany

The number of vegans in German doubled to 2.6 million (3.2 percent of the population) between 2016 and 2020, according to research by vegan supermarket chain Veganz. Around 10 percent of Germans are vegetarian.

Germans are also eating less meat than at any time since records began in 1989. German Agriculture Ministry data shows that meat consumption had dropped to 52kg (115 pounds) per person in 2022. In 2017, the amount was 61kg (134 pounds).

A recent study found that Germany has the highest sales of plant-based milk and the greatest market potential for dairy-free alternatives of six European countries analyzed.

Young people concerned about the climate crisis seem to be helping drive these dietary shifts in Germany. The German government also appears to be more clued up on the climate and environmental impact of animal farming than many other governments. The Federal Government approved a food strategy in December 2022 embraces the need for eating less meat and more plant-based foods to address health and sustainability issues.

In Lower Saxony, new regulations in the AFP also make it easier for fruit and vegetable growers to secure funding, since they “in themselves also provide sufficient improvement in environmental and climate protection.”

More like this:

• Scottish Farmers Are Willing To Ditch Animal Agriculture For The Environment, New Survey Finds
• The Netherlands To Buy Out Farmers And Slash Cow Numbers In Nitrogen ‘Crisis’
• Dutch Farmers Protest Plans To Reduce Livestock Numbers And Emissions

The post German Farmers Offered Incentives To Move Away From Pigs appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Penny chain, which operates 2,150 branches in the country, introduced new prices for nine products in all of its stores for a week-long trial at the start of August. These prices reflected the “true costs” (“wahre Kosten”) of the mostly meat and dairy items. 

The prices were determined by experts from two universities, the Nuremberg Institute of Technology and the University of Greifswald. The costs reflected the impact the products have on the climate, soil, water use, and health. Weiner sausages rose from €3.19 to €6.01 and fruit yogurt inflated to €1.56 from €1.19. Vegan schnitzels were also given higher prices, but these were less so, at just a five percent increase. The cost of Maasdam cheese, for comparison, was increased by 94 percent. 

“We wish to create an awareness around the hidden environmental costs of groceries,” Stefan Görges, Penny’s chief operating officer, told German media. “We need to put out the uncomfortable message that the prices of our foodstuffs which are accrued along the supply chain in no way reflect the environmental on-costs.”

The environmental impact of animal agriculture

There is no denying that meat and cheese production is catastrophic for the environment. As well as being responsible for at least 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, “livestock” farming is also driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution. 

The experts from the two German universities determined that the Maasdamer cheese had “hidden costs” of 85 cents for the carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions. They added 76 cents for soil damage, and 63 cents for pesticides. A further 10 cents was given to account for pollution of groundwater through fertilizer use.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse that’s 80 times more warming than CO2 in its first 20 years in the atmosphere. It also has a much shorter half life, meaning cutting it has the potential to slow global heating quickly, giving us more time to address carbon emissions. Intensive farming practices also cause significant damage to soil, while pesticides harm the health of farmers, as well as the environment they’re used in. 

Should supermarkets take responsibility for the climate?

Acknowledging and accounting for climate costs of foods is an exceptionally rare move from a supermarket. There does, however, seem to be a growing trend towards doing so in Germany. 

Earlier this year, it was announced that budget discounter Lidl would be reducing the amount of meat sold in its supermarkets in the country. This was in line with a company-wide push for sustainability, which also included increasing the number of plant-based products available in store. 

“We need a more conscious diet all over the world to feed ourselves within our planetary limits,” Lidl’s chief buyer Christoph Graf was quoted as saying at the time, He went on to state there was “no alternative” to Lidl’s meat reduction as there is “no second planet.”

Not all countries have seen such moves, however. Last month, it was reported that all major UK supermarket chains are prioritizing sales of meat and dairy over the planet. The study, which came from environmental campaign group Feedback, found that shops like Tesco and Sainsbury’s promote climate damaging products while promoting “minor green initiatives.” The report likened this to “greenwashing,” the practice of marketing something that’s environmentally damaging as eco-friendly.

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• UK Government Urged To Make Climate Labels Mandatory On Restaurant Menus
• Bristol Vegetarian Restaurant Now Adding Climate Impact Labels To Menus

The post German Supermarket Charges ‘Climate Cost’ Of Food, Raising Meat And Dairy Prices appeared first on Plant Based News.

Meat-free eating is seeing a boom in popularity in the country. Earlier this year, it was reported that around 10 percent of Germans are vegetarians. It’s also thought that 3.8 percent eat vegan diets. Burger King is catering to the country’s skyrocketing plant-based demand by selling a meat-free version of every menu item. 

Speaking recently to Vegconomist, Klaus Schmaeing, Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King Germany, said that the team are “putting their heart and soul” into driving plant-based options forward.

“Approximately one in five Whoppers is now sold with a plant-based patty,” he said. “In the case of the Long Chicken, almost one in four products are ordered with a plant-based patty. But we are not stopping there. We will continue to surprise our guests and fans with exciting innovations and offer them opportunities to try plant-based alternatives.”

Burger King goes meat-free

Burger King Germany stocks vegan meat from Dutch brand The Vegetarian Butcher. It also features vegan cheese from Violife in its Long Chicken product. While this product is vegan, some of the meat-free items feature egg products or dairy cheese. You should always check with your server before ordering.

The chain opened the world’s first entirely plant-based Burger King branch in Cologne in 2021. This proved popular, and a number of other countries – including the UK, Portugal, and Austria – followed suit. 

Burger King is becoming widely known for its meat-free menu. At the start of last year, it announced that it would be making 50 percent of its menu meat-free in the UK. It also introduced vegan nuggets and a plant-based Whopper. At the time, the Chief Executive Alasdair Murdoch said the launches were a “significant milestone.”

“Adapting to customer preferences is a key focus at Burger King – we are committed to helping our guests make good decisions about what they eat and drink and providing them with informed choices – whether through clear nutrition and allergen labeling, or by offering vegan and vegetarian options,” Murdoch said at the time.

Fast food restaurants embrace veganism

Burger King isn’t the only fast food restaurant to have adapted its menu to cater for the ever-growing meat-free population. McDonald’s offers plant-based nuggets and a vegan McFlurry in Germany, as well as the McPlant burger in many other countries. So successful was the launch of the vegan burger in the UK, that it released a “Double McPlant” in January of this year.

The burger was made with two Beyond Meat patties, and came served with vegan cheese, mayo, as well as tomato, lettuce, and gherkins. “It’s no secret that people went wild for the taste [of the original McPlant burger], with many taking to Twitter to express their desire for a doubled-up version,” a spokesperson said at the time.

Other fast food joints with vegan menus include Subway, has introduced a range of plant-based subs in a number of countries. KFC, Nando’s, and Pizza Hut also cater to plant-based consumers.

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The post One In Five Whoppers Sold At Burger King Germany Is Plant-Based appeared first on Plant Based News.

The central European country is famous for meaty foods like schnitzel and sausages. Its residents, however, are increasingly moving away from these products and towards plant-based alternatives. 

Figures from the German Agriculture Ministry found that that meat consumption had dropped to 52kg (115 pounds) per person in 2022. This was the lowest since calculations began in 1989. Just five years ago, the amount was 61kg (134 pounds).

Germans are becoming more and more mindful of the impact meat has on non-human animals and the planet. What’s more, it’s thought that increasing costs have spurred people on to move away from animal products. 

The rise of meat-free eating in Germany

It’s thought that around 10 percent of Germany’s population follow a meat-free (vegetarian diet). Veganism is also increasing in the country, with around 3.8 percent abstaining from all animal products. 

Germany is thought to have the highest per capita vegan population in Europe. Over half of people (55 percent) reportedly identify as “flexitarian,” meaning they eat a meat-free diet most of the time. 

Due to exceptionally high demand, the plant-based food space in Germany is booming. Tofu sausages, seitan schnitzels, and veggie burgers are particularly popular foods. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in 2021, Germany companies produced almost 17 percent more meat alternatives than the previous year, and 62.2 percent more than 2019. 

The country’s fast food joints also appear to be embracing the growing market faster than any other countries. McDonald’s Germany, for example, became the first in the world to offer chicken-free nuggets and a vegan McFlurry. These have become popular menu fixtures. 

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The post Meat-Eating In Germany Hits A Record Low appeared first on Plant Based News.

German coffee lovers can now order their preferred beverage with dairy-free milk at no extra cost. Plant-based options include almond, coconut, oat, or soy milk.

The move comes after years of pressure from pro-vegan organizations, including PETA, as well as consumers. It also follows in the footsteps of Starbucks UK and France, both of which dropped their vegan milk upcharges in 2022.

PETA considers the surcharge elimination a significant win, declaring that “change is in the air.” It also reiterated that, along with celebrity supporters including musician Sir Paul McCartney and actor James Cromwell, it has been applying pressure on Starbucks to drop its “hypocritical added fee” for years.

When will Starbuck drop the vegan milk surcharge in North America?

Despite Starbucks Germany removing its surcharge, the North American arm of the world’s largest coffee chain is yet to follow suit.

Starbucks US and Canada continue to charge up to 80 cents to use vegan milk in place of the standard dairy option. This, despite Starbucks previously acknowledging that plant milk is environmentally superior and that regular dairy milk is the largest contributor to the organization’s carbon footprint. 

Previously, Starbucks announced that it wants to reduce its emissions, water use, and waste by at least 50 percent. In 2018 alone, it created 16 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gasses. This led the company to recommend that customers ditch milk in hot drinks to lower their carbon footprints.

The post Starbucks Germany Just Dropped Its Vegan Milk Surcharge appeared first on Plant Based News.

The fast food chain partnered with Beyond Meat to produce the nuggets, which are made from corn, peas, wheat, and tempura coating. 

McDonald’s will be adding the McPlant to the German menu, too. The burger, which is also made with Beyond Meat, was first launched in the UK in 2021. 

It is not yet known whether either will be suitable for vegans. In some countries, including the UK, the McPlant is certified as vegan and comes with plant-based mayo and cheese. In others, however, the burger can include dairy products and be cooked on the same grill as meat. Plant Based News has reached out to McDonald’s for clarification. 

While the McNuggets are initially just launching in Germany for a trial run, there is potentially scope for them to be rolled out to other countries if they prove popular, McDonald’s said. 

The McNuggets and McPlant will start rolling out next week.

Veganism in Germany

Plant-based food is popular in Germany, and it’s currently the only country in the world to offer McDonald’s vegan McFlurry. 

There are thought to be around 2.6 million vegans in Germany, making up around 3.2 percent of the population.

Its capital Berlin, in particular, is known to be hugely vegan-friendly. It’s long been declared the vegan capital of Europe, due to its vast array of plant-based restaurants, cafes, and shops. 

McDonald’s and Beyond Meat

The announcement comes days after McDonald’s marked its two year anniversary of its partnership with alternative protein brand Beyond Meat. 

The Beyond Meat McPlant burger has been hugely popular since it launched, prompting McDonald’s to add the “Double McPlant” to its UK menu in January of this year. 

The new burger features two Beyond Meat patties, and has been a popular choice for UK vegans. 

The post McDonald’s Launches Beyond Meat Plant-Based Nuggets In Germany appeared first on Plant Based News.

The “AquaDom” has been described as the largest free-standing cylindrical tank in the world. It stood at 14m high (46 ft), and was located in the lobby of the Radisson Blu hotel. 

Two people were injured as a result of the incident. It is thought that all the fish died. 

“In addition to the unbelievable maritime damage … two people were injured by glass splinters,” Berlin police said on Twitter.

The incident occurred in the early hours of this morning. Reports state that a loud bang was heard, before the tank’s 1 million liters of water spilled out into the lobby and out on the street.

As reported by the BBC, Franziska Giffey, the Mayor of Berlin, described the incident as almost like a tsunami. 

She also spoke of her relief that it had happened so early in the morning, as it meant that the surrounding areas weren’t full of people.

What happened to the AquaDom?

The exact cause of the incident isn’t yet known. A police source told local media that there is no evidence it happened due to a targeted attack. 

According to the Guardian, there has been speculation that the -10C (14F) temperatures overnight caused a crack in the tank, leading to it exploding due to the pressure of the water. Police are still investigating the incident.

The aquarium has been a huge tourist attraction in Berlin, and it was last upgraded in 2020. 

The post Huge Aquarium Containing 1,500 Exotic Fish Bursts In Berlin appeared first on Plant Based News.

This meant that for the first time ever, both oat and almond milk prices were cheaper than whole milk. 

Vegan options more affordable across Europe

Across Europe, inflation is rising in many industries, including food, energy, and transportation. This is intensifying the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Increasingly, consumers are looking for more cost-effective ways to shop, and for many, this means cutting down on animal products.

In the Netherlands, plant-based meat now costs less than animal meat. In a recent study, ProVeg International compared the prices of 36 products in June.

It found that while plant-based burgers used to be more costly than meat, they were 78 cents cheaper per kilo in June. Vegan chicken pieces were 37 cents cheaper than their animal-derived counterparts, and plant-based mince was €1.36 less per kilo.

According to Pablo Moleman of ProVeg Netherlands, meat requires more resources to produce, and that’s why prices are rising.

He said: “Meat has always been a product that requires an enormous amount of raw materials. To make one kilogram of meat, you need up to ten kilograms of grain. Now, in times of scarcity, that takes its toll.”

In the UK, research published in June found that one-third of shoppers were ditching meat products, or reducing them, in order to cut down costs. 

The post Amid Inflation, Oat Milk Costs Less Than Whole Milk In Germany appeared first on Plant Based News.

Plus, the event’s snack stands now offer dishes like vegan meatloaf and pea schnitzel.

Oktoberfest maintains that “everyone who doesn’t eat meat is guaranteed to be satisfied.” The website adds: “In general, the number of Wiesn delicacies without animal products has risen sharply in recent years.”

Germany slows down on meat consumption

The changing menu at Oktoberfest, which is known by locals as Wiesn, reflects a wider shift in Germany. 

The country has always had a reputation for loving meat, but lately, things seem to be changing. In fact, it is one of the few countries around the world that has actually shown a drop in meat consumption.

Now, the average German citizen eats around 121 pounds of animal protein per year. But in 2011, it was more like 138 pounds per year.

In March, one survey by ProVeg International suggested that 10 percent of Germans do not eat meat at all, while 30 percent follow a flexitarian diet.

Matthias Rohra, ProVeg’s executive director for Germany, said that the findings “highlight the growing desire among the German population to diversify their diet away from meat and dairy.”

He added that it also demonstrates “tremendous potential for plant-based foods” in the country.

If you’re eager to sample some meat-free Bavarian delights, Oktoberfest begins on September 17 and will run until October 3. 

The post This Year’s Oktoberfest Is More Vegan-Friendly Than Ever Before appeared first on Plant Based News.

Despite climate experts recommending a mainstream shift to plant-based diets, Germany is one of the few countries, alongside Sweden, to demonstrate an actual reduction in meat consumption. (Meanwhile, other rich countries have either plateaued at a generally high level or are slowly increasing their meat consumption.)

In 2011, the average German citizen ate 138 pounds of meat per year. But that has since dropped by 12.3 percent. Now, the average German eats around 121 pounds of animal protein per year.

Back in March, research suggested that more than half (51 percent) of the German population had reduced their meat intake in the previous year. Plus, research from the Smart Protein Project suggested that in 2020, the sales value of plant-based food in the country increased by 97 percent.

Germany ditches meat

The meat industry contributes 14.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and is a driving force behind global deforestation. 

Rich nations have been told they must reduce their meat consumption by 75 percent if the climate crisis is to stand any chance of improving. The reduction recommendation came from Germany’s own University of Bonn, though citizens were already making meaningful plant-based progress.

A poll conducted by Veganz revealed that between 2016 and 2020, the number of vegans doubled to 2.6 million. This represented 3.2 percent of the entire population, but not enough of an explanation for a drop in meat consumption.

Food awareness organization ProVeg International offers an opinion, claiming that it is the flexitarian market that has reduced consumer interest in meat. A study by Forsa appears to corroborate the explanation.

Forsa found that almost half (49 percent) of the 1,000 people it surveyed had previously bought and eaten vegetarian or vegan alternatives to animal-based foods.

Sustainability and animal welfare concerns were cited by 60 percent of participants. Health was quoted by 49 percent. Older age groups leaned towards the latter as a primary motivator. 

Accessibility helping consumers make the switch

Helping German consumers make the switch is increased availability of plant-based products, with restaurants, startups, and big food manufacturers all jumping on the meat-free trend.

German meat company Rügenwalder Mühle started manufacturing plant-based meats in 2014. Last year it reported that these had overtaken its animal products in terms of annual sales. 

Just recently, Burger King Germany started to offer a plant-based version of every menu item, to appeal to flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegan diners.

Even cultural events are recognizing the importance of inclusivity. Oktoberfest, famous for selling upwards of 400,000 sausages per annual event, now offers plant-based options.

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