People who eat a meat-free diet help the climate, animals and live healthier lives – say some. Others claim that the substitute products are more harmful to the climate than meat. What is true? We also offer you the most impactful slot streamers overview.
According to the consumer advice centre, around eight million people in Germany eat a meat-free diet, i.e. around ten percent of the population. And the trend is rising. Many see this as a contribution to protecting the climate, animals or their own health.
THE FACT CHECK
Others do not believe in such effects. Here are some theories in the fact check:
1. claim: A vegetarian diet is better for the climate.
Assessment: Correct.
‘It is indeed the case that a vegetarian diet is better for the climate and also for many other environmental categories, such as nitrate pollution in water,’ explains Hyewon Seo from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). According to Elisa Kollenda, Sustainable Nutrition Officer at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in Germany ‘the climate footprint of our diet could be reduced by 47 per cent through purely vegetarian food consumption’.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), more than 33 billion chickens, 1.6 billion cattle and almost one billion pigs and sheep are currently kept worldwide. These animals require huge amounts of land and feed, causing lasting damage to the climate and environment.
According to the FAO, ruminants produce methane, which accelerates global warming. Ecosystems are also suffering, as land consumption contributes to the extinction of species and cleared forest areas fail as natural climate protectors. A study by the University of Bonn concluded in 2022 that industrialised nations worldwide would ideally have to reduce their meat consumption by 75 per cent in order to meet global climate targets and continue to feed humanity in the future.
70 per cent of the world’s soya is produced for meat consumption
2. claim: Vegetarians are doing just as much harm to the planet by eating meat substitutes such as soya.
Assessment: Misleading.
Millions of hectares of unique habitats have been destroyed by soya cultivation in recent years, according to the WWF. This has led to a drastic decline in biodiversity in the regions concerned. However, this is not only due to vegetarians: 70 per cent of the soya grown worldwide is used for meat consumption because the soya is used for animal feed instead of for direct human consumption.
3rd claim: A vegetarian diet protects animals.
Assessment: Partly true.
According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, more than 750 million farm animals were slaughtered for food production. In Germany in 2022 – including pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens and turkeys. That’s more than two million per day. Compared to the previous year, meat production fell by 8.1 per cent.
The German Farmers’ Association emphasises on its website: ‘The husbandry conditions in Germany are being increasingly geared towards the needs of farm animals, for example through better stable climates, higher feed quality, hygiene, animal health management and more targeted breeding methods.’
Lea Schmitz from the Animal Welfare Association argues that even today, most animals still live in welfare-unfriendly husbandry systems and high-performance breeding that reduces them to mere production units. ‘In their cramped environment, they have neither enough space nor opportunities to retreat, nor can they fulfil their natural needs. All of this leads to illness, stress, frustration and behavioural disorders.’
A vegetarian diet is therefore ‘already an important first step towards greater animal welfare’, says Schmitz. However, she also emphasises: ‘Unfortunately, milk and egg production also cause a great deal of animal suffering. For example, dairy cows and laying hens usually also have to die at a young age. As soon as they no longer perform at their best.’ The Animal Welfare Association therefore believes that veganism, which also avoids animal products such as eggs, cheese or honey, is the more consistent way to improve animal welfare.
‘Well supplied with all important nutrients’
Claim 4: A vegetarian diet is healthier.
Assessment: Basically correct.
According to the consumer advice centres, a vegetarian diet has ‘proven health benefits’. They say: ‘Anyone who avoids meat and eats a varied and diverse diet is well supplied with all the important nutrients.’ Germans consume around one kilo of meat per weel. According to the UBA. However, the German Nutrition Society recommends significantly less in terms of health: 300 to 600 grams. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies processed meat as ‘carcinogenic’ and unprocessed red meat as ‘probably carcinogenic’.
