German Nutrition Society (DGE) says vegan diets can be both healthy and environmentally friendly
Germany’s most influential body on nutritional policy, the German Nutrition Society (DGE), has revised its position on vegan diets, stating that vegan diets can be good for health and are very environmentally friendly.
“This new position ushers in a new era in nutrition policy in Germany,” Anna-Lena Klapp, International Nutrition and Health Lead at ProVeg, said.
“It takes vegan diets out of the shadows of the policy debate and places them front-and-centre instead. We are delighted that this position has been published and we expect it to influence similar bodies around the world,” Klapp added.
The DGE (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung), which represents German nutritional science in national as well as international organizations, took into account health, environmental, animal welfare and social factors to come to its position.
On the environment, the new position states: “Compared to the mixed diet currently common in Germany, which contains a high proportion of animal foods, a vegan diet is to be considered more environmentally friendly, especially due to the great potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
On health, the new position states that for the healthy adult general population, a vegan diet, in addition to other diets, can also be a health-promoting diet, provided that vitamin B12 is included and a balanced, well-planned food selection is made.
The DGE previously stated that a vegan diet was “not recommended” for vulnerable population groups – pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy, childhood, adolescence and seniority – due to the limited data available in the previous DGE position papers.
However, it has changed this position as well. The DGE is now stating it is making “neither a recommendation for nor against” a vegan diet on the basis of the improved but still limited data situation.
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Notes to Editors
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About ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organization with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
