More than half of the Germans are Overweight – a walk through a supermarket reveals why. And shows how hard the politicians, the food industry to sell healthier products to stop.
The Problem is, the half of Germany, is about 400 grams heavy and extremely inexpensive. It entices the palate with zerlaufendem cheese, with spicy Salami and crusty dough. A faster handle to the freezer shelf, and the popular fast food is initially placed in the shopping cart, then in the microwave, and finally on the plate. You deserve nothing else. The Problem is, the half of Germany, frozen pizza.
“Such a Pizza, the worst are still with extra cheese the edge, actually two meals. One half covers the caloric needs of an adult complete. But who eats one half and freeze the other one again?” asks Gabriele Janthur. You fight with the consumer advocate, through the narrow aisles of a super market, you will understand very quickly why, in the meantime, 52 percent of Germans are obese, and the trend is rising.
Consumer activist Gabriele Janthur calls from the industry, sugar – and fat-containing products to draw better
“The portions are too large and the calorie information is incomprehensible and hidden. On the back of the pack 266 kilo calories. But in that case, only 100 grams!” In the standard frozen pizza of 400 grams of about 1000 kilo calories hide. A real bomb.
Difficult Mission for Julia Klöckner
In the industrial countries, many people of the frozen pizza can’t resist anyway. Meanwhile, worldwide there are more Overweight than Underweight, with fatal consequences: increased risk for cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism disorders, and Diabetes. Also heart attacks and strokes, an earlier death are more likely to, anyway. The policy is desperately trying to counteract, especially with education and prevention. In Germany, this is the Job of Julia Klöckner.
The CDU-politician in March, the Minister for food, agriculture and consumer protection. The Name of the Ministry reveals that Klöckner is an almost impossible Mission: To protect the rights of consumers, the interests of the food industry. At the Forum of the Federal centre for nutrition in Bonn, Germany Klöckner, as well as by promoting the nutrition expertise of the people in this country. The Germans should understand how unhealthy frozen pizza, and a large bow to make it. “My goal: The healthy choice should be an easy choice!” says Klöckner full-bodied.
“I can’t. I want to be. I’m going to!” – Julia Klöckner would like to raise the awareness of the Germans for healthier food
To increase the nutritional competence Klöckner has even in the coalition agreement – twelve million euros will be allocated for in the budget in 2019. The 45-Year-old wants to expand the plan of action for healthy movement and nutrition, called “In shape”, and aims mainly to children and the elderly. But Klöckner also know that Young and Old will eat only balanced if the price is right.
“We have noticed in our numerous initiatives in schools and old people’s homes, that healthy food can be better and at the same time be cheaper.” So not the way to Klöckners study times: “The cheapest food in the canteen was always curry sausage with French fries and the most expensive of the salad from the salad bar. Because we can never go back!”
Industrial traffic light, instead of consumer traffic light?
Dario Sarmadi had there been an idea to prevent this. “The producers of sugary beverages should pay a tax, and thus an incentive to develop healthier recipes.” calls of the nutrition expert of the organization “food watch”. In the UK the manufacturer will be asked in April with a sugar tax on drinks with high sugar content to the checkout. “Coca-Cola has changed that’s why the recipes and selling lemonade with less sugar. The Federal government needs to Wake up.” Part of it also, to view the manufacturers in advertising-more specifically, the Finger. “Three out of four advertised foods to children are sugar bombs and oily Snacks.”
Protests in front of the nutrition forum in Bonn for less meat-containing school Lunches
But above all, the food traffic light in Germany had finally to red for a high percentage of fat, sugar and salt, and yellow for tolerable limits, green for a low and so healthy amount. Only: The EU Parliament has rejected the traffic light. “Woman Klöckner could still introduce a voluntary traffic light in Germany”, calls Sarmadi and warns you not to leave this to the industry: “The has now introduced a traffic light, which is a sham: There’s Nutella, which is 90 percent fat and sugar, however, not a red, but still yellow!” The simple Trick: the industrial light is measured, the values of too small portion sizes.
Eating habits have changed
And so it is for the consumer so far only as a guide to quality seals. Gabriele Janthur grabs a milk with “EU-organic”label to your shopping cart. That is, the milk obtained from organic farming, the cows are humanely kept. “The milk is, of course, in the back of the supermarket,” the consumer activist, “that’s because everyone has to in order to get as many other products over”.
How, for example, at the frozen pizza. “Food nowadays is simply a very difficult field, because we eat on all occasions and in all situations, and there is everything in Abundance,” sums up Janthur, how complicated it is nowadays to eat a healthy diet. The more difficult it is for you to leave the supermarket happy. “If I’ve bought a lot of fruits and vegetables, it is in the shopping cart, so beautiful green, then I’m satisfied!”