Why Americans Cut Back on Meat Consumption

Americans ate less meat in 2019, according to a recent Gallup survey, and one of the main reasons for giving up the food group were concerns of its effect on people’s health.

The survey, conducted in September and comprised of over 2,400 people, found that 23 percent of respondents reported they ate less meat in 2019 than in 2018. A majority of respondents, 72 percent, still said they ate the same amount during 2019, while 5 percent said they ate more.

The survey highlighted that women responded they ate less meat in 2019 by more than double that of men, with 31 percent of women and 15 percent of men saying they ate less meat. 31 percent of nonwhites said they ate less meat compared to 19 percent of whites, while 30 percent of Democrats reported eating less meat while only 12 percent of Republicans said they ate less in 2019.

For those that did eat less meat in 2019, a majority cited health concerns as a major reason for cutting back. Countless studies have pointed to the detrimental effects of certain meats on the heart and gastrointestinal organs. Eating too much meat has been linked to a rise in heart disease in the country.

Many respondents said they were eating smaller portions of meat in their effort to eat less, with 77 percent saying they eat less and 71 percent saying they substitute meat for vegetables or other ingredients.