Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe 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. Advertisement 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. Read More It's time for a bacon celebration U.S. House gets rid of 'Meatless Mondays' sign KFC protester tackled, pelted with food College's vegetarian plan a hoax