Meat Consumption Hits A Record Low In The UK

Meat consumption in the UK has reached a record low, with people consuming the lowest amount of meat since records began in 1974. Factors contributing to this decline include the cost of living crisis, the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and changing dietary preferences towards plant-based and flexitarian diets. On average, meat consumption has dropped by 14 percent over the last decade, with red meat seeing the most significant decrease.

Despite the belief that vegan diets are more expensive, a significant number of people are abstaining from meat due to rising costs. Meat prices rose well above the rate of inflation last year, leading to 28 percent of Brits cutting down on meat. Additionally, there is a growing awareness of the ethical and environmental impact of meat consumption, with experts emphasizing the need for a shift towards more plant-heavy diets to combat issues like greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. Despite this, the government has not taken a stance on telling people to eat less meat.