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SoylentNews is people

posted by cmn32480 on Thursday March 23 2017, @02:17PM   Printer-friendly
from the soylent-ftw dept.

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.


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  • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:20PM (4 children)

    by Snotnose (1623) on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:20PM (#483269)

    Came here to say this. Around here it's hard to get ground beef for under $5/lb, a decent steak starts at $7/lb. I can get pork for $2-3/lb, and chicken for $1/lb.

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  • (Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:33PM (2 children)

    by dyingtolive (952) on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:33PM (#483274)

    Your other prices match my area's cost of living, so I gotta ask: Where are you finding chicken for that cheap? Is it real chicken, or that mulched and pressed stuff that's like 40% filler?

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
    • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Thursday March 23 2017, @07:08PM (1 child)

      by Snotnose (1623) on Thursday March 23 2017, @07:08PM (#483344)

      San Diego. The $1 chicken is on sale in value packs. Thighs/drumsticks are pretty much anytime, breasts get to $1/lb maybe once a month.

      --
      Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 24 2017, @12:26AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 24 2017, @12:26AM (#483451)

        You didn't say how much you have to buy to get the price.

        In a recent week, I saw chicken "quarters" (thigh and drumstick, joined) for $0.49/lb in 10-lb bags, frozen.
        I see $0.69/lb on that fairly regularly.
        Defrost, bake the lot, put the portions in serving-size containers, and freeze them.

        Yeah, if somebody can't find chicken for $1/lb or less on a regular basis, a market is taking an incredible markup.

        I note that I rarely buy from the Meat department these days.
        I tend to get my vitamin B12[1] from eggs or processed food (canned chili, cream of chicken soup).

        [1] B12 is the -only- nutrient you can't get via a veggies-only diet.
        A once-a-day vitamin pill will supply that for much less than buying animal-based products.
        ...and, as has been mentioned, that price differential is increasing.

        -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

  • (Score: 2) by EvilSS on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:45PM

    by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 23 2017, @04:45PM (#483278)
    This. I can make a bunch of meals from one decent sized whole boneless pork loin, and those can be had from Sam's for about $15 give or take. Chicken runs about $1.50-$2 per pound depending on sales. Beef I can get maybe 2 decent steaks for the $15. Ground beef is around $3/lb. Just not worth it for most meals anymore.