Food trends come and go, though some may be here to stay. In general German consumers lean towards
and therefore the origin of food products, how they are manufactured and, reaching even further, the connection between the food industry and
Compared to the nutrition experience of previous generations, additional factors influencing food trends are ongoing scientific research and discoveries about nutrition, as well as the increasing availability of information in this field, be it through the work of nutritionists, coaches or looking for facts on the internet. Finally, the sheer variety in German food retail, a widespread array of choices for consumers, as well as several generations growing up without war restricting food availability and
consumption are significant contributing factors to food trends developing in the first place.
Meat-free eating
Germans follow various diets, with the food market racing to follow close behind. Deciding to become a
vegetarian in terms of food products, which means following a meat-free nutrition plan, is one way in which consumers may settle on what they consider a healthier eating option. Vegetarianism may be attractive both for ethical and nutritional concerns regarding meat sold by food retailers. While vegetarians do not completely exclude food with animal origins from their diet, vegans do just that. Also, a food item aiming to be sold as vegan has to be manufactured or produced without any components from animals. Vegan eating is not restricted to cooking at home, with the number of
vegan restaurants in Germany increasing in recent years.
Organic food
Another food trend growing only stronger is attention to whether groceries bought during routine shopping runs are organic. Based on the definition established by the German Food Federation (Lebensmittelverband Deutschland), food products are considered organic if they meet several criteria. They come from ecologically cultivated crops, in other words, ecological farming, which does not use chemical fertilisers and pesticides, or any kind of chemical, man-made substances to influence crop growth and livestock breeding. These practices aim both at providing 'clean' crops and products, and not damaging the environment used in farming. The majority of
organic product sales was generated through food retailers, followed by stores specializing in health food. Most consumers said their
interest in organic food was based on their own decision or after speaking to others already eating this way. The most
frequently purchased organic grocery products in Germany included eggs, fruit and vegetables.
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Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
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