The German Society for Nutrition (DGE), the country’s most influential body on nutrition policy, has updated its official position on vegan nutrition, declaring that a vegan diet is both significantly more environmentally friendly and beneficial for health.
In its new position on vegan nutrition, the organisation is for the first time taking into account environmental, animal welfare and social issues alongside health as goals for a more sustainable diet. This has a decisive consequence: the professional nutrition organisation which largely influences community feeding and nutrition advice in Germany has moved away from its negative stance.
“This new position heralds a new era in German nutrition policy,” comments Anna-Lena Klapp, International Nutrition and Health Leader at ProVeg.
“Together with the recently updated DGE guidelines, this new position makes it clear that all styles of plant-based diets, from flexitarian to vegan, have a contribution to make to solving our nutrition problems.”
What has changed in DGE’s position on vegan nutrition?
The paper states: “For the first time, all four goal dimensions of a more sustainable diet (health, environment, social welfare and animal welfare) have been taken into account in the reassessment of the DGE position on vegan nutrition, focusing on health and environmental aspects. For the health goal dimension, the previous position statement mainly considered nutrient supply. Now, other health-related parameters (e.g. blood lipid levels) and diet-related disease risks (e.g. cardiovascular disease) are also significantly integrated into the assessment.”
“Based on current knowledge, the DGE has made a new judgment in its reassessment: for the general population of healthy adults, when vitamin B12 supplements are taken, balanced and planned food choices are made, and intakes of potentially important nutrients are sufficient to meet requirements (including other nutritional supplements), a vegan diet can be a health-promoting addition to any other diet.”
Environmental and health benefits
Meat and milk are among the foods with the greatest impact on the climate. In Germany alone, the livestock industry is responsible for around 70% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. This is of great importance in terms of nutrition policy. And for the first time, the DGE has also come to the same conclusion: it states that a vegan diet is a recommendable measure to reduce the environmental impact of our food system.
“Calculations show that a vegan diet can reduce diet-related emissions by more than half compared to a mixed diet,” Clapp explains.
According to ProVeg, numerous studies have impressively demonstrated the preventive effects of a vegan diet for healthy adults. This has led nutritional societies around the world to classify a vegan diet as a healthy diet that can reduce the risk of many diseases of civilization. “Among other things, a vegan diet can prevent the ‘disease epidemics’ of widespread cardiovascular disease and obesity,” explains Clapp. DGE agrees in its new policy document. The assessment applies to healthy adults who consume vitamin B12, ensure adequate iodine intake, and eat a balanced diet.
When it comes to children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly, the DGE is more cautious, citing the limited number of studies: “We cannot make a clear recommendation for or against a vegan diet.” Although numerous studies on vegan diets have been published in recent years, ProVeg also lacks evidence-based research on these population groups and athletes. “The associated multiplier also requires a competent counseling service,” Clapp points out.
The DGE also clearly emphasizes that a vegan diet is not expensive. Rather, healthy eating is generally a challenge for low-income families. This needs to change, and political measures such as VAT targeting are required. ProVeg is calling for this too, because “when it comes to healthy and sustainable nutrition, national and international experts agree that plant-based foods should be the priority,” explains Clapp.
Joint catering
The DGE positions have been well received, especially as they play a decisive role in community catering: among other things, they influence menu planning in company canteens, universities and schools. For many years, ProVeg Food Services has been running training courses for kitchen teams, in which the organisation communicates the potential of a vegan diet in reducing emissions and preventing health problems, as well as techniques and recipes.
“We’re pleased that DGE also found that people who choose plant-based meals more frequently are creating significant benefits for themselves and the environment,” explains Katleen Haefele, director of corporate and institutional engagement at ProVeg. “Communal catering should ensure that well-planned plant-based meals are firmly integrated into their lineup.”
Anna-Lena Klapp, nutrition expert at ProVeg, said: “DGE’s revised positioning is much more balanced and clearly highlights the benefits of a solutions-oriented vegan diet.”
See the full statement from the DGE here: https://www.dge.de/gesunde-ernaehrung/faq/faqs-vegane-ernaerung/
