Germany faces rising food prices and high food waste levels

Germany is experiencing significant shifts in dietary habits and food management. Consumption of meat and sausages is declining as more people, particularly younger generations, opt for vegetarian or vegan alternatives and plant-based foods. Despite this decrease in volume, meat prices continue to rise, placing additional pressure on household budgets and forcing consumers to compare prices more frequently.

Simultaneously, food waste remains a critical issue in the country. Approximately eleven million tons of edible food are discarded annually in Germany. Private households are the largest contributors, accounting for 58 percent of this waste, or roughly 6.3 million tons. Other contributors include food processing (17 percent), gastronomy (16 percent), retail (7 percent), and agriculture (2 percent).

While a national strategy introduced in 2019 aimed to halve food waste by 2030 through voluntary measures, progress has been limited. However, the German Food Association reports that participating retail chains and wholesalers have managed to reduce food losses by 25 percent.