The German Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer (CSU), has reversed a prior policy implemented by his predecessor, Cem Özdemir (Greens), which mandated exclusively vegetarian and organic food at official ministry events. Rainer, in an interview with “Bild am Sonntag” stated that the policy will be amended to include meat and fish options, prioritizing regional sourcing.
Rainer, who holds a background as a butcher, emphasized his respect for diverse dietary choices. “I understand their approach. If someone wants to eat vegetarian, that’s fine. Vegan is fine too” he stated. He clarified that his intention is to avoid any form of ideological division surrounding food preferences, expressing equal acceptance of vegetarian, vegan and meat-eating diets.
Responding to inquiries regarding the dietary habits of his party leader, Markus Söder, Rainer adopted a diplomatic response. “He simply enjoys it” Rainer commented. “It’s not my place to dictate what anyone should eat. As long as the food tastes good and is fresh, that’s all that matters”. The shift in policy reflects a move away from previous guidelines and underscores a focus on providing a range of options for official engagements.