Meat Consumption: Trends and Health Implications

Meat consumption in the United States has nearly doubled in the last century. Americans are now among the top per capita meat consumers in the world; the average American eats more than three times the global average.¹ A growing body of evidence suggests Americans’ taste for meat and animal products is putting them at greater risk for a range of health problems.

• While per capita poultry consumption has increased, the majority of meat consumed is still red meat (beef, pork, lamb), and nearly a quarter is processed meat (hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, etc.).²

• Meat can be a good source of protein and other essential nutrients, but most Americans eat more than 1.5 times the average daily protein requirement,^3, and consume more than the recommended amount of foods from the USDA Protein Foods group.⁴

• The majority of the protein foods consumed in the U.S. are meat and animal products, which are often high in saturated fat and cholesterol, as opposed to the more nutrient-dense and health-promoting plant-based options (e.g., beans, peas, lentils, soy products, nuts and seeds).⁴ Typical American diets also fall significantly short of meeting recommendations for vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.⁵

• A strong body of scientific evidence links excess meat consumption, particularly of red and processed meat, with heart disease,^6,7,8 stroke,⁹ type 2 diabetes,^6,10 obesity,^11,12 certain cancers, ^{7,13,14,15,16} and earlier death.^7,8 Diets high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans can help prevent these diseases and promote health in a variety of ways.^{17,18,19,20,21}

• Why does meat increase health risks? Studies give several reasons: high saturated fat and cholesterol content,⁶ high energy density,^11,21 carcinogenic compounds found in processed meat and formed during high-temperature cooking,^8,22 a compound called L-carnitine in red meat that may promote plaque build-up in the arteries,²³ and the lack of health-protective plant foods in high-meat diets.

• While there is no specific federal guidance on the type or amount of daily meat consumption, key recommendations in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines include choosing a variety of protein foods, increasing the amount and variety of seafood consumed, reducing saturated fat intake, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake.⁵ Americans have sufficient flexibility in their diets to reduce meat consumption while making space for nutrient-rich, plant-based alternatives.