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The last decade or so has brought ample evidence that Americans are gradually changing their diets, driven by health concerns and other factors.
But a new study points to one change that is starker than many have thought: Americans cut their beef consumption by 19 percent — nearly one-fifth — in the years from 2005 to 2014, according to research to be released on Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The environmental group found that consumption of chicken and pork fell as well, though less drastically, as Americans ate more cheese, butter and leafy greens.
The council is hailing the plummeting popularity of beef as a victory in the fight against climate change, because greenhouse gases are produced when cattle are raised. The group estimates that the resulting reduction in pollution would equal the emissions of 39 million cars, or about one-sixth of the number of cars registered in the United States in 2015. (Some of those environmental benefits, the group says, were erased by increased consumption of other foods that also create emissions.)
The research, which is based on data from the Agriculture Department and calculations using the same methodology as the Environmental Protection Agency, found that changes in the overall American diet reduced emissions by the equivalent of pollution from 57 million cars — despite population growth of about 9 percent.
I switched to eating people. Mmm, tasty.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DannyB on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:01PM (7 children)
One way to eat 19% less beef is if burgers contain 19% less beef. Replaced by cheap fillers like grains, flour, cereals, styrofoam, old shoes, etc.
Another way is to have 19% less meals on wheels (starve seniors). 19% less school lunches (starve kids at school). 19% less food stamps (starve kids at home).
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:44PM (3 children)
Additionally, most restaurants are serving less absurdly ginormous portions. That's a way to improve the bottom line without raising prices.
(they still raise the prices of appetizers, drinks and desserts, but customers are sensitive to the price of main dishes)
(Score: 2) by bootsy on Thursday March 23 2017, @05:15PM (2 children)
This getting less for the same price is sometimes called shrinkflation. We see this a lot with things like chocolate bars.
I very much doubt that the inflation statistics pick this up fully.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday March 23 2017, @05:21PM
Better not to talk about it, since you get health benefits from chugging your only-14-once ice-cream pint!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday March 23 2017, @06:28PM
The Ministry of Truth says that the chocolate ration has been increased to 20g.
(An increase of -4g.)
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(Score: 2) by CoolHand on Thursday March 23 2017, @05:44PM
I don't think you can say 19% less of X is equivalent to a 19% drop overall in beef consumption. In many examples you cited, the persons may acquire and eat beef in some other way. Additonally, all those examples are only a subset of the entire population, whereas the 19% drop was for everyone...
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(Score: 2, Informative) by YeaWhatevs on Thursday March 23 2017, @06:18PM (1 child)
Even old shoes, the leather ones anyway, are beef technically.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Thursday March 23 2017, @07:26PM
Tenderized by making children massage the beef with their feet for several years.
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