More vegetables, mineral water, herbal and fruit teas versus less pork and alcohol - the nutrition situation in Germany has improved at some points. This is shown by the trend analyses on food consumption based on agricultural statistics in the 14th DGE nutrition report from the German Society for Nutrition (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung). "However, the declines in the consumption of fruit, cereal products and fresh potatoes as well as the increases in cheese, beef, veal and poultry meat are in contradiction to a plant-based diet as recommended by the Society in its 10 Rules for a Wholesome Diet," said Prof. Dr. Kurt Gedrich, TU Munich and one of the authors, assessing the developments at an online press conference to present the nutrition report on November 24, 2020.
"It would be very welcome if the consumption of vegetables, fruit, potatoes and cereals constantly reached a higher level than the consumption of animal food", says editor-in-chief Prof. Dr. Helmut Heseker, University of Paderborn. "A plant-based diet is not only beneficial to one's health, but also climate-friendly".
Vegetables still popular
Consumption of vegetables continues to rise, reaching 104 kg per capita per year in 2018. "As in previous nutritional reports, there were significant increases for tomatoes (approx. +440 g/per person, per year) ,carrots and beetroot (approx. +260 g) and onion-like vegetables (approx. +160 g). Pulses are also becoming increasingly popular with consumers, with growth rates of around 40 g per person per year for fresh pulses and around 50 g per capita and year for dried pulses," says Gedrich, summarizing the vegetable consumption trends. He evaluated the agricultural statistics data for the Society.
Fruit consumption dropping: consumption of apples, pears, etc.
Fruit, on the other hand, shows a decrease in consumption of -720 g per person, per year. Particularly affected are apples (-1.4 kg per capita and year), pears (-70 g), table grapes (-140 g) and oranges (-110 g). The trend is sloping towards berries (except strawberries) and nuts with significant increases of 170 g and 130 g per person, per year respectively. Banana consumption is also increasing (+180 g per person, per year). The consumption of strawberries, dried fruits, cherries, plums, apricots and peaches remained stable.
Declining consumption of fresh potatoes
Similar to cereal products, the consumption of fresh potatoes has also decreased statistically significant with -840 g per person, per year.
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