In the vegan cookbook "Tierschutz genießen" of the German Animal Welfare Association, hobby cooks who want to serve an animal-friendly holiday feast will find what they are looking for. Copyright: © Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.
German Animal Welfare Association promotes vegan Christmas
17.12.2019, Bonn – Whether roast goose, lobster, salmon, cheese taclette or egg liqueur - traditional Christmas dinner is often associated with considerable animal suffering. The German Animal Welfare Association appeals to all those who want to conjure up something tasty for their loved ones at Christmas to make the feast of love the feast of animal love. Those who want to spend the holidays in an animal-friendly way can fall back on a variety of herbal recipes.
"Christmas is the feast of compassion and contemplation. But a look at the brochures and supermarket shelves shows that Christmas is a time for compassion and reflection: "When it comes to our food, there is often a double standard. With millions of animals in the agricultural industry, nothing of this compassion gets through", says Verena Jungbluth, head of veganism at the German Animal Welfare Association. "Particularly in the hectic, mostly consumption-oriented Christmas season, it is important to become aware again of what we want to support with our purchase decisions - and what not.
Disastrous housing conditions
The majority of Christmas geese come from Poland and Hungary where they often have to live in catastrophic conditions. In countries like France or Hungary, the animals are stuffed three times a day, mostly by machine, to produce foie gras. But also in Germany pigs, cattle or chickens often cannot come close to their natural needs, have hardly any space and no employment opportunities.
Salmon usually come from the crowded confines of huge fattening farms. Crustaceans, especially lobsters, often vegetate for months in narrow boxes with tied shears before they reach the retailer. After purchase, they are thrown alive into boiling water, where they undergo a death struggle lasting several minutes.
And since there is no labelling requirement for processed eggs - unlike fresh eggs - products bought in supermarkets or from bakers, such as egg liqueur or stollen pastries, still mostly contain eggs from hens kept in cages in contravention of animal welfare regulations.
Vegan delicacies and careful shopping
Both sweet and savoury dishes without any animal suffering can be prepared easily today. Christmas delicacies such as gingerbread and marzipan are often vegan anyway - it's worth taking a look at the list of ingredients.
Vegan chocolate cake, Christmas stollen or cookies can be easily prepared with the right recipes, even without eggs, butter and cream. Roasts made of lentils, nuts or chestnuts, combined with vegetable variations and salads, are suitable for the festive table.
„Es ist einfach wie nie, tierleidfrei zu essen“
… Nobody who chooses the plant-based variant has to do without a delicious, hearty Christmas feast," explains Jungbluth.