NY Times: We’re Eating Less Meat. Why?

[marmar]

We’re Eating Less Meat. Why?
By MARK BITTMAN


Americans eat more meat than any other population in the world; about one-sixth of the total, though we’re less than one-twentieth of the population.

But that’s changing.

Until recently, almost everyone considered their dinner plate naked without a big old hunk of meat on it. (You remember “Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner,” of course. How could you forget?) And we could afford it: our production methods and the denial of their true costs have kept meat cheap beyond all credibility. (American hamburger is arguably the cheapest convenience food there is.) This, in part, is why we spend a smaller percentage of our money on food than any other country, and much of that goes toward the roughly half-pound of meat each of us eats, on average, every day.

But that’s changing, and considering the fairly steady climb in meat consumption over the last half-century, you might say the numbers are plummeting. The department of agriculture projects that our meat and poultry consumption will fall again this year, to about 12.2 percent less in 2012 than it was in 2007. Beef consumption has been in decline for about 20 years; the drop in chicken is even more dramatic, over the last five years or so; pork also has been steadily slipping for about five years. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/were-eating-less-meat-why/

[hobbit709]

1. Think price and quality may have something to do with it?

What meat I buy now is natural-no hormones, antibiotics, etc.

[tabatha]

2. Factory farms may be one reason.

People following the McCartney way may be another.

The reported evils of red meat another.

[shraby]

3. Price is a very big factor. People just simply can't afford much of it.

[GoCubsGo]

4. All those recalls have a lot to do with it, too.

All those recalls for E. coli-tainted meats, and the deaths associated with them, are likely turning people off, too.

[RevStPatrick]

5. My parents both had to have meat at every meal.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner. And with my father, in particular, preferably that "big old hunk."

I probably have meat at one meal every other day, and usually as a side or flavoring. I won't hesitate to have a "big old hunk" if it's a nice cut, preferably on the grill or in a good restaurant. But I probably eat the same amount of meat in a typical week as my father ate in a typical day. Maybe even less.

[kaitcat]

6. Flexitarianism -- I like that word.

I don't turn down meat if it's offered, but I like pasta with lots of butter and Parmesan better, a fried egg with cheese on toast with butter. It's sort of like oh, okay, so there is a method to this madness.

[zipplewrath]

7. Need to see some demographics

I'd bet a few dollars that the dominate reason is cost. But I'd also bet that the aging population is a factor as well. One could probably find that they are eating less of everything. My third guess would be the dominant factor is the trend among the young for vegitarianism. I think the majority of my under 30 friends have dabbled in it for some period of time and tend to come out of that eating more fish, as well as many meat free meals. Truth is, the number of people eating NO breakfast at all seems to be increasing. I'd love to see data from Kellogs to see if there are declines in their sales.

[justiceischeap]

8. I'd guess part of it is demographics

people are living longer and the longer they live, the bigger the chance that doctors tell them to cut meat out of their diets for health reasons. Also, we've been learning over the years that eating a lot of meat isn't really good for you, so I'd guess that people just aren't eating as much meat because they want to live longer and be healthier.

[lonestarnot]

9. Wising up to the dangers in terms of caloric intake, expense to pockets, environment and animal

cruelty in every bite. Thinking while swallowing.

[TlalocW]

10. Well, I just moved and haven't really had the chance to go shopping

So I just have been munching on crackers, yogurt, etc.

TlalocW

[Brickbat]

11. We're eating less meat, but better meat.

[Zalatix]

12. Consumption is down and yet prices are up.

Me, personally, I hate rice and beans without some kind of meat.

ESPECIALLY since the price of beans is going up!!!

[no_hypocrisy]

13. Health, safety, and cost.

With more information coming out that confirms that beef and pork are given hormones and antibiotics, consumers lean toward organic varieties if they can afford them. And if they can afford either corporately produced or organic meats, less is purchased or used, for example, ground chuck that will be distributed in a stew or casserole that can last beyond one meal for several diners. OTOH, safety concerns abound about bacteria found in ground beef as the grinders aren't adequately cleaned/sterilized, if at all, spreading bacteria to a notable percentage of product.