Never had meat consumption fallen so much in Germany. Even the famous currywurst pays the price.
In 2022, Germans consumed an average of 52 kilos of meat per person. This is the lowest figure since 1989, since statistics have been made: six years ago, it was 60 kilos per person.
It is above all the consumption of pork that is decreasing: -20%. There are unmistakable signs: once the most ordered dish in company or university canteens, curry sausage, the famous currywurst, is relegated to third position, overtaken by pasta with pesto. Nurseries and schools are increasingly offering vegetarian menus. The big winners from this decline in meat are the alternatives, soy steaks, tofu sausages and other vegetarian burgers, which are taking up more and more space on supermarket shelves.
In a country that is one of the very first meat producers in Europe, this is a small revolution. One in ten Germans say they are vegetarian or vegan, almost twice as many as in 2018. Since Olaf Scholz’s coalition came to power just over a year and a half ago, the ermany even has a vegetarian Minister of Agriculture, that’s a first.
Economic and ecological concerns
First reason for this decline in meat consumption: inflation. +19% for beef and veal last year, +23% for poultry. This price spike has prompted consumers to look for alternatives.
Germans are also increasingly concerned about animal welfare, the meat industry suffers from an image problem. Finally, there are concerns related to climate change: the Minister of Agriculture came to recall that livestock farming is one of the main sources of CO2 emissions in agriculture. It must present its nutritional strategy by the end of the year. But the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture calculated that even if Germans consumed half as much meat, the impact on the climate would be almost insignificant.
In a recent survey, almost six out of ten Germans say they are opposed to the state taking measures to reduce meat consumption. The Minister responded by saying that it is not a question of dictating to everyone what to put in their basket, but simply to encourage them to eat healthier and more balanced foods.