Finnish Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö is demanding clarification of a recent decision to introduce weekly vegetarian meals at garrisons across the country.
According to news outlet Lännen Media, Blue Reform minister Niinistö was surprised to hear of plans to offer vegetarian servings in garrison canteens. Niinistö questioned the change, citing a survey which found that less than half a percent of conscripts favour a regular day devoted to vegetarian food.
”In light of these numbers, this kind of force-feeding seems to be an ideological decision. According to the old saying, an army marches on its stomach. No army fights on lentil soup and cauliflower smoothies,” Niinistö said.
When Yle asked Niinistö to explain his stance, he emphasised that at the moment he was only requesting a probe into the matter.
"The aim today is to ask for a clarification. I don't have anything else to add at this time. I will look at the report and then comment further."
Concerns over pocket money for pizzas
Yle asked the minister to clarify the basis for his concerns.
"Have you heard of proteins? Have you heard of carbohydrates? Conscripts need them. There is no need to impose ideologies on conscripts. It is fine if the canteens serve spinach soup and eggs, but not that everybody is forced to eat the same food," he responded.
Niinistö went on to address the slippery-slope effects of the weekly vegetarian meals.
"This is also a question of conscripts' pocket money. It is not good if conscripts use their money to buy pizzas rather than eating in the canteens."
When Yle asked Niinistö to expand further on his remarks and explain what kind of protein sources conscripts need and why vegetarian food is a bad option, Niinistö had little to say.
"That is ideological agenda journalism."
Yle News reported earlier this week that starting this autumn, garrison canteens would begin to offer weekly vegetarian-only meals. The announcement was made by Major Eija Pulkki of the Defence Forces logistics centre.
As the canteens offer a warm lunch and dinner each day, two vegetarian meals will be offered weekly on different days. Meal service provider Leijona Catering said the decision was prompted by research into the health benefits of vegetarian food and the impact of meat consumption on climate change.