It’s undeniable that red meat is popular in the United States. In 2023 alone the average per capita consumption for red meat was 57.6 for beef and 49.8 for pork. The US continues to be one of the leading nations in red meat consumption, with the average citizen consuming around 224.6 pounds of meat a year and peaked in 2021 with 30 billion pounds of beef consumed, according to the USDA.
That said, the country’s love for meat is declining, albeit very slightly. Compared to the 1970s, the US has seen a remarkable decline in the consumption of meats like veal and lamb, while beef and chicken continue to cling on. According to WIRED, meat consumption in the US is tied to a specific age group, males between the ages of 50 and 65. While other demographics eat their fair share of meats thanks to foods like hotdogs and hamburgers, the male boomer generation still maintains many red meat eaters, particularly beef, due to the culture they were raised in.
Outside of the risks that arise from meat overconsumption, its impact on the environment continues to be a major source of contention. In recent years, the US has come under fire from many climate scientists and the UN for the impact its meat overconsumption has on the environment.
In a January open letter addressed to USDA Chief and US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Vilsack was called out on his comments during the COP 28 in December 2023 and his failure to abide by the advice of experts when it came to aiding in reducing meat consumption within the US.
“We write with concern that the Department of Agriculture is disregarding the science on the climate cost of meat and dairy in high-consuming countries like the United States, and advancing the industries that are driving agricultural emissions.”
“The USDA has repeatedly been urged by scientists (including its scientific advisory committees), environmental experts, and public health advocates over the past decade to address excessive meat and dairy consumption in food and nutrition policy,” the letter states, “But the United States has fallen far behind other G20 nations in even taking the first step of incorporating sustainability into the national dietary guidelines.”
Unfortunately, one of the many reasons the US continues to stagnate in its battle with meat is the politicization of the topic. Like many other alternatives, it’s received fierce pushback thanks to misinformation. With the right and persistent investment in educational programs, a transition towards more sustainable ways of eating meat and meat alternatives can happen.It will not be a change that happens overnight, but with how environmentally conscious younger generations like Gen Z have grown, the industry promoting meat will likely have to adapt.
