BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Free lunch for all children: This is at the top of the recommendations of a Citizens’ Assembly of the Bundestag on nutrition. In total there are nine proposals that have been prioritized. They were presented in the Bundestag in Berlin on Sunday in the presence of Bundestag President Bärbel Bas. Bas said the Bundestag would take the recommendations “very seriously.”
The topic of nutrition is changing
The SPD, Greens and FDP had announced in the coalition agreement that they wanted to use “new forms of citizen dialogue” such as citizens’ councils. The 160 participants were drawn in a “citizen lottery”. Previously there was a multi-stage random procedure. The recommendations should be summarized in a citizens’ report, which will then be discussed in the Bundestag. However, there is no obligation for the suggestions to be implemented.
The citizens’ council’s top recommendation
The Citizens’ Council met on three weekends and Zoom meetings also took place. On Sunday, proposals were voted on and prioritized. The result: Number one is the recommendation that all children nationwide should be given a free and healthy lunch every day in daycare centers and schools. This is a matter for the states, but the federal government should finance at least half of it. So far, only children at risk of poverty could receive a free lunch. The expansion should promote healthy nutrition for children. Free lunch should be introduced in stages within eight years, starting in daycare centers.
One label and new VAT rates
In second place was the proposal for a mandatory state label, which should make it easier to consciously purchase healthier food. Customers should be able to compare products more easily and better. What follows: Supermarkets of a certain size should be obliged to pass on edible food that would otherwise be thrown away, for example to food banks. In addition, the living conditions and origins of animals should be presented more transparently.
Then the citizens’ council wants to tackle the VAT thicket for food. The Citizens’ Council wants a “new tax course”. The goal: healthy, environmentally and climate-friendly, animal welfare-promoting and affordable food for everyone. Specifically, for example, the VAT for organic fruits and vegetables and for legumes should be set to zero. Sugar should become more expensive and be taxed at 19 percent VAT. There should also be a VAT of 19 percent on meat if there is no animal welfare tax – that is another recommendation – and if it is not organic quality meat.
Other Recommendations
Further recommendations include healthy communal catering in care facilities. An age limit of at least 16 years should be introduced for energy drinks. Reason: The damage to health and the potential for addiction are just as serious as with cigarettes and alcohol. And finally, there should be more staff for food inspections. Foodwatch managing director Chris Methmann said of the citizens’ ideas: “VAT down on fruit and vegetables, energy drinks only from the age of 16, Nutriscore traffic lights mandatory on food: The federal government must now implement the many sensible suggestions from the citizens’ council.”/hoe/DP /nas