Today is the annual Meatout day on which activists urge people to “kick the meat habit on March 20 and explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of grains, vegetables, and fruits.” I already had a turkey sandwich this afternoon, so I guess I’m a bit late to join in on the festivities, but it is worth noting a surprising trend. Meat is more popular then ever.
Given the ongoing mad cow disease problems, the current foot and mouth disease outbreak, not to mention rising consumer awareness of meat-borne risks such as e. coli, it is a bit surprising that the demand for meat is spiking worldwide. Part of the reason is the rising income levels in the developing world, but meat doesn’t seem to be losing many fans in the developed world.
In the United States, partly because of fears over Europe’s Mad Cow Disease problem, animal agriculture is booming. In February 2000, live cattle could be had for 68 cents a pound. Today you’ll need to pay 82 cents a pound, and the cattle futures market shows no end in site for rising cattle prices.
In addition to European and other nations buying more American beef because of the European mad cow scare, domestic demand for beef is up as the food industry has successfully expanded the market for beef through products such as microwaveable beef cuts that are gradually growing in popularity.
Meanwhile the number of true vegetarians remains very small in the United States — probably somewhere between 1 and 2 percent. It is hard to gauge the true number because in many polls significant numbers of Americans will self-identify themselves as vegetarians — as high as 7 to 8 percent in some polls — but questions about dietary behavior reveal that only about 1 to 2 percent never eat meat, poultry and shellfish.
Animal rights activists simply aren’t making significant inroads in convincing Americans to abandon meat eating.
Sources:
Cattlemen reaping beefed-up profits. Arthur Rotstein, Associated Press, March 11, 2001.