A team of economists in America analysed tens of thousands of households’ grocery purchases from 2005 to 2020 to see how meat consumption had changed over time. Their findings expose a generational “chasm” where some households are eating less meat while most are consuming more. A key finding is that age and demographics may signal a long-term trend as younger households, especially those headed by people born after 1980, are significantly more likely to avoid meat or animal products.
Grocery receipt data (2005–2020) show a slight rise in meat-avoiding households (4.1% to 4.6%), and a doubling of those avoiding all animal products (0.5% to 1%). Meanwhile, meat purchases among other households increased by 15% by weight. In America, meat remains relatively cheap due to deregulation and subsidies, keeping consumption high.
One of the dominant drivers of changing consumption was found to be rising meat prices, which account for two-thirds of the increase in meat avoidance, with media coverage on factory farming and animal advocacy playing a smaller, less consistent role. Plant-based meat alternatives haven’t yet significantly displaced meat, unlike plant-based milks, which have replaced cow’s milk on a nearly 1-to-1 basis.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
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