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Vegetarianism

People who don't eat meat are known as vegetarians. Some estimates suggest that 1.5 billion people opt for a vegetarian diet.

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All Content on this topic

Food packaging ready for sale in Germany. Prominently visible on the labels is information about the living conditions of the animals used to make the meat, and about the overall nutritional value of the produce.

German minister: Eating habit survey shows shifting tastes

A new government study points to changing tastes in food, but not a clash of cultures, the agriculture minister says.
SocietySeptember 24, 2024
DW Podcast | Science Unscripted

Were we hunter-gatherers? Or gatherer-hunters?

You may have seen headlines saying prehistoric humans were in fact more vegetarian than carnivore. They're wrong.
ScienceJanuary 26, 202414:52 min
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Weekly roundup — The moral law within me

A study shows it's never a good idea to watch someone eat broccoli. Also, what Job (from the Old Testament) got wrong.
ScienceJanuary 21, 202430:00 min
DW Podcast | Science Unscripted

Why more women are doing 'Veganuary'

Why is a diet that leads to better human health (and a cooler climate)… just not very popular with men?
ScienceJanuary 17, 202416:34 min
Vegetable dishes on a table

A vegan diet may be better for your heart, not taste buds

A new study showed people who ate a vegan diet lost weight compared with those eating an omnivorous diet.
ScienceDecember 5, 2023
Rice fields in China, seen from above

GM food: The best way for sustainable food production?

GM foods remain controversial, but for some experts it's the best science-based method for a sustainable food system.
ScienceJuly 5, 2023
A group of so-called cow vigilantes climb onto a truck at a toll gate in search of cows.

India's 'vegetarian nationalism' targets Muslims

"Cow vigilantes" go after butchers as part of a wider Hindu nationalist campaign against India's Muslim minority.
SocietyApril 10, 202303:19 min
India - halal meat

India's 'vegetarian nationalism' targets meat eaters

The crackdown is seen as part of a wider Hindu nationalist campaign against the Muslim minority community.
PoliticsApril 6, 2023
Illustration of early humans butchering an elephant

Why do humans eat meat?

On World Vegan Day, DW looks at why humans eat so much meat when we know it's bad for us and the planet.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 1, 2022
A woman bites into a burger

Fact check: How bad is eating meat for the climate?

Is going vegetarian or vegan really better for the environment than eating meat?
ClimateOctober 30, 2022
An employee slices vegan meat alternatives at a vegan Butcher in the UK

Vegan meats cut emissions fastest

Investments in plant-based proteins have huge potential to cut emissions from the highly polluting agriculture sector.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 25, 2022
Thumbnails für "In Good Shape"

Vegetarian protein for muscle building

Proteins are the building blocks for muscle fibers and tissue. They make you full and also support the immune system. Proteins are found in meat but there are also good, meat-free alternatives.
ScienceJuly 22, 202203:03 min
Raw steak

France bans veggie 'steaks,' 'sausages'

France adopted the measure after a sustained campaign by the country's farm lobby.
BusinessJune 30, 2022
Two hands shake over a health spread of fruit and vegetable

'Nudging' pro-climate choices

A "green nudge" can inspire more climate-friendly consumption without overt rules or bans.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 8, 2022
A man inspects the delicate green leaves of herbs

The best vegetable restaurant in the world

Luxembourg chef Rene Mathieu conjures gourmet meals from earth and tree lichen.
LifestyleMay 21, 202205:01 min
Global 3000 | Kap Verde: Global Snack

Cachupa: the national dish of Cape Verde

A new veggie version of Cachupa is going down well among foreign tourists.
LifestyleMarch 18, 202202:39 min
DW Euromaxx 06.11.2021 | Quallen

Food trends for 2022

A meatless future — more and more sustainable products can be part of your diet in 2022.
LifestyleJanuary 1, 202205:46 min
Made in Germany 20.10.2020 | Fleischersatz

Meat substitute boom could help environment

Our love of meat knows no bounds. Are meat substitutes the solution?  
BusinessDecember 21, 202105:13 min
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COVID vaccine based on a tobacco plant

It is one of the most unusual approaches in the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus.
HealthSeptember 16, 202103:05 min
Berlin universities almost banish meat from canteens

Berlin universities prioritize plant-based meals

Berlin students are pushing for less schnitzel and more beets and lentils in their lunch.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 4, 2021
Global Ideas | Workshop Ronald Wagemann Initiative CCORI/Cocina Optima

How important are dietary rules?

Are vegetables healthy? Are sodas unhealthy? In the end, it's often the quantity that's key.
HealthSeptember 3, 202102:53 min
Grim-looking currywurst

Ex-chancellor bemoans VW currywurst loss

Gerhard Schröder complained that the dish was being removed from the menu at the Volkswagen plant in North Germany.
OffbeatAugust 11, 2021
Shelves in a supermarket stacked with meat cold cuts

Germany produced less meat in 2020

The total value of meat produced in Germany fell last year — but demand for vegan alternatives soared.
BusinessMay 14, 2021
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Ask Derrick

Our science correspondent looks at how coronavirus affects vegetarians.
April 19, 202102:03 min
Island | Gletscherhöhle

Exploring glacial caves and standing up to oil pollution

This week on Living Planet, stories of how local movers and shakers deal with global problems.
Nature and EnvironmentApril 15, 202129:58 min
DW Fit und Gesund | Vegan Butcher

Istanbul's vegan butcher

A vegan butcher shop in Istanbul is successfully selling meat-free alternatives to regional specialties. 
ScienceApril 2, 202105:28 min
Children in a school cafeteria eat lunch

French meat-free school lunches draw fire

The mayor of Lyon has told schools to stop serving meat to simplify and streamline lunch breaks during the lockdown.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2021
Meat dish

Vegetarian school lunches spark row in France

The government has accused the Lyon mayor of insulting French butchers and harming the health of children.
PoliticsFebruary 21, 2021
Sacks with different types of beans in a market in Manama (Bahrain)

The power of pulses

Beans, peas and lentils are often overlooked. Could pulses help counter the environmental impact of meat production?
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 10, 2021
Beyond Burger with fries

Will plant-based meat become the new fast food?

Plant-based meat products are booming — but will they ever replace meat?
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 13, 2020
Pig carcasses strung up on hooks

'Eating meat is no longer a private matter'

Why is meat consumption such a controversial topic? And how important are gender aspects in the debate?
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 6, 2020
Rainer Hagencord | vom Theologischen Institut für Zoologie

Can you be a good Christian and eat meat?

Why is a Catholic priest in rural western Germany plunging his flock into existenial crisis? Because he's a vegetarian.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 1, 2020
Meatless burger

EU Parliament votes for veggie sausages

EU parliamentarians have voted down a motion to ban meatless food products from having names associated with meat.
SocietyOctober 23, 2020
A herdsman prepares cows for his customer after cattle transactions at Illiea Cattle Market, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Eat less meat to save the planet?

Plant-based diets can help the climate. But for millions who still depend on livestock to get by, it's not so simple.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 16, 2020
Global Ideas Zukunftsessen

How will our diets change in the future?

Food for all — how farming worldwide could be improved.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 16, 202003:02 min
DW MADE 4.12.2018 - Grafik - Vegetarier Deutsch Englisch

Can vegetarians save the planet?

Being vegetarian is often seen as the best way to reduce your impact on the earth. But is that true?
BusinessJune 2, 202002:49 min
DW Made in Germany Sendungslogo Composite

Made in Germany - Are vegans taking a bite out of meat?

Would a meat-free future help save the planet? It's crunch time for the food industry.
BusinessJune 2, 202026:06 min
USA Fleischlos: Burger ohne tierische Produkte

Satiating our taste for meat without killing animals

For millennia, humans have reared animals to eat. But modern industrialized meat production is not sustainable. Alternatives to meat are gaining popularity — but just how eco-friendly are they? DW spoke with Benjamin Bodirsky of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany to learn more about meat alternatives.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 14, 202006:54 min
A meal with rice, broccoli and tofu

Sustainable meat alternatives

Coronavirus outbreaks in abattoirs have raised questions about our taste for meat. What other options are out there?
Nature and EnvironmentMay 13, 2020
DW Gewinner Euromaxx Zuschaueraktion Vegetarisches Gericht

What is your favourite vegetarian dish?

We asked you for a photo showing your favourite vegetarian dish.
CultureFebruary 28, 2020
DW euromaxx 15.02.20 Paul Ivic

Paul Ivić: Europe’s top vegetarian chef

Austrian Paul Ivić is one of few chefs in Europe to earn a Michelin star with vegetarian cuisine.
LifestyleFebruary 15, 202004:25 min
Air conditioning units

Climate change: Are we trapped in a vicious circle?

Our response to climate change has inadvertedly triggered a few negative feedback loops.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 6, 20207 images
Meet the Germans, Meat

'Meat' the Germans

Rachel Stewart visits a local butcher and samples some unusual meaty German delicacies.
CultureJanuary 22, 202004:23 min
Euromaxx Seven Swans

A Michelin-star Vegetarian Restaurant

“Seven Swans” in Frankfurt has a creative approach to vegetarian cuisine.
LifestyleOctober 11, 201904:20 min
A vegetable market in Lahore, Pakistan

Growing vegetarianism in Pakistan — a choice or a necessity?

Analysts say high inflation is impacting the food patterns of many Pakistanis, compelling them to give up eating meat.
SocietyOctober 1, 2019
Fleischlose Burger

Do vegans help prevent climate change?

Even though dietary decisions are proven to reduce CO2 emissions, young Germans are still eating a lot of meat.
SocietyAugust 12, 2019
DW MADE 4.12.2018 - Gans

The rise of meat substitutes

Can meatless sausages compete with the real thing?
BusinessJune 11, 201902:57 min
DW MADE 4.12.2018 - Grafik - Vegetarier Deutsch Englisch

Can vegetarians save the planet?

Being vegetarian is often seen as the best way to reduce your impact on the earth. But is that true?
BusinessJune 6, 201902:48 min
Panda eating bamboo

Panda bears: Not as mysterious as we once thought

Panda bears eat bamboo. We all know that. But we also all know that bears are meat eaters.
ScienceMay 3, 2019
external

Can vegetarians save the planet?

Being vegetarian is often seen as the best way to reduce your impact on the earth. But is that true?
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 1, 201902:08 min