Germans are seriously cutting down on meat, according to new research (Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
Some 42 percent of Germans have deliberately ditched meat or reduced how much they eat, the Guardian reports.
The outlet cites research published in the scientific journal Foods which shows that ‘out-and-proud omnivores, those who eat meat without any restrictions, are for the first time a minority’ in the country.
‘Quite profound’
The 42 percent includes vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and flexitarians. Reasons for reducing or ditching meat included environmental and animal welfare concerns.
Bath University psychologist Christopher Bryant, who worked on the study, said: “The social implications [of the German numbers] here are potentially quite profound.
“The view that being a carnivore is ‘normal’ is part of the lay moral reasoning for continuing to eat meat. But once that is a minority view, and meat replacement options become cheaper and tastier, the trend is likely to continue in one direction.”
More people are opting for meat alternatives (Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
Top 10
Germany is considered vegan-friendly according to a recent list by Chef’s Pencil, which ranked it sixth in a list of the world’s top 10 vegan-friendliest countries.
Meat products are traditionally very popular in Germany, but according to Chef’s Pencil, Google Trends data showed that countries whose cuisine traditionally is greatly meat- and dairy-based are seeing a big rise in veganism, which it concluded means that ‘veganism is stronger than ever’.
The organization added that searches for vegan recipes have skyrocketed, and continue to go strong – even though lockdown has come to an end in most parts of the world and many restaurants have re-opened.
