German city backs off meat-free Thursdays plan

ESSEN, Germany, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A German city has abandoned its plan to introduce meat-free Thursdays at city-run canteens due to concerns it could overshadow other environmental plans.

Officials with the environment council in Essen said they have decided to cancel the plan -- which would have made city-run canteens vegetarian-only on Thursdays to promote healthy eating habits -- to prevent focus from being drawn away from the other recommendations in the Integrated Energy and Environment Concept report, The Local.de reported Wednesday.

The meat-free Thursday plan was based on a recommendation from the Green Party, which rules in North Rhine-Westphalia in coalition with the Social Democratic Party.

However, the plan had met with resistance from Christian Democrats and the Essen Citizens' Association.