Politicians stormed out of a buffet¹ at a German government symposium² on "exporting green technology" in Berlin this month when meat was not served, a media report said on Saturday.

 

据媒体上周六报道，2月在柏林举行的“出口绿色技术”的政府研讨会上，会议自助餐摆“素宴”，不少政界人士表示不满。

 

Instead of the salami rolls, cocktail³ sausages or goulash soups one would ordinarily expect at similar functions in the German capital, the lunchtime menu offered Belgian endives with caramelised apple and a soya vegetable lasagne, the Guardian⁴ reported.

 

The vegetarian⁵ spread was the first manifestation⁶ of the German Environment Ministry⁷'s decision this month to became the first government agency to take meat and fish off the menu at official functions, citing a need to lead by example when it comes to environmentally sustainable consumption and the "consequences of consuming meat".

 

"We decided⁸ to take the symbolic⁹ step to ban meat and fish at external events because we want to practice what we preach," ministry spokesperson Michael Schroeren told the Guardian.

 

"For us it was a matter of credibility".

 

Christian¹⁰ Schmidt, Germany's food minister and a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), immediately slammed Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks.

 

He said: "With us there won't be a veggie day through the back door. Instead of paternalism and ideology¹¹ I stand for variety and freedom of choice."

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