Source: BBC
Time after time, the media has portrayed red meat as bad for our health. But, a new study suggests that this is not the case. Now, scientists are
unsure of whether red meat harms one’s health or not. They claim that cutting down on red meat has little to no health benefits when looking at
a large scale population. Although there may still be risks, it seems that these risks are so small that they don’t significantly impact one’s wellbeing.
The data gathered in this study is not drastically different from previous studies, the only difference lies in interpretation. While previous researchers
made hard and bold statements, the researchers in this study chose to consider external factors and all data points.
made hard and bold statements, the researchers in this study chose to consider external factors and all data points.
Of course, this is not to say that people should indulge in red meat now. After all, meat production worsens climate change. According to a Lancet
report, “increased consumption of plant-based diets could reduce [agricultural greenhouse gas] emissions by 80 percent” (Vox link). (If you’re
interested in learning more, the Climate Crisis episode in the TED Radio Hour has some informative statistics on how red meat production affects
climate change.)
report, “increased consumption of plant-based diets could reduce [agricultural greenhouse gas] emissions by 80 percent” (Vox link). (If you’re
interested in learning more, the Climate Crisis episode in the TED Radio Hour has some informative statistics on how red meat production affects
climate change.)
How does this new study affect the meat industry? How does it affect the average consumer?
5 comments:
This study would significantly affect the meat industry. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Services (https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/r207tp32d/8336h934w/hq37vx004/lsslan19.pdf), the total red meat produced in 2018 was 53.5 billion pounds. This accounts for 6% of the U.S's annual GDP, meaning that should this study cause a drastic decrease in red meat consumption, the US economy could be strongly affected. An average consumer would also be affected because if less red meat is consumed, companies will be less inclined to produce red meat, which causes prices to increase.
I don’t think that this will have a major impact on the red meat industry, as I feel that the average consumer would not change their diets based on this study. I think that it's probably a small percentage of the population that chooses not to eat red meat based on the belief that it is bad for our health, and I don’t think that they will easily change these views now that researchers are interpreting the results differently. This new study showing that there is no evidence of red meat being bad for our health seems to contradict decades of research, so I think a lot of people will be skeptical of these results before they change their eating habits. In addition, I doubt that a large portion of the population is even aware of this study, as I had no idea about this until I read your blog post. Overall, I think that this won’t really impact the meat industry until more concrete evidence is found proving that red meat is not bad for our health.
While I agree with the notion that an overindulgence in red meat (beef, venison, pork) does link to some serious health malacies, considering that their saturated fats correlate to a subject’s rise in overall cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease, I don’t agree that this particular study would change public perception towards red meat consumption. The prospect of eating red meat is engraved into American culture as being a symbol of their heritage (especially those of Central European descent), the love of red meat being one of America’s global selling points and distinguishing characteristics (to the point where the stereotypical American is depicted as, more or less, a fat Yank chowing down on a hot dog), and has been a source of economic boomage.
According to Zocalo, an Arizona State University-run public journal, a mainstay as to why red meat consumption has consistently remained prominent, despite uncovered information about its health complications, is due to “ethnic heritage” wherein it was believed that “meat eating was a defining characteristic of civilisation”, particularly among “the English and German [descendants]”[1]. With the tradition of gobbing down on a slab of meat on a plate going as far back as the colonial America, wherein it was mostly used as subsistence for wary settlers in unknown territories, it has since solidified itself centuries beyond, later becoming a symbol of American competence and perseverance through hardship, whilst also generating a “feel-good” emotions through it since a consumer would feel as if they’re carrying on an old tradition of theirs.
Unbridled patriotism aside, though domestic consumption of red meat has lagged since the 1960s, with a report by the National Chicken Council, a spokesman group for the US chicken industry, stating that per capita consumption has dropped from 149.6 lb in 1971 to 100.4 in 2014[3], overall export of beef has been on a steady increase since 2009, as the US Meat Export Federation reported a total of 1,359,917 metric tons of beef exports in 2018, amassing to $8.332 billion dollars made from foreign exports to, among the big importers, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico[2]. Even if it’s hypothetically unpopular on the domestic front, red meat alone is in such high demand on the global market and the United States, considering the returns of their exports compared to production costs, would be kicking itself in the foot for trying to supplant red meat industry. The tragedy does still lie in its emissions of greenhouse gasses (from, not kidding, cow farts, no less) and their environmental impact, so I hope that more policies are enacted to combat these issues, especially in terms of pastures-management and feeding practices.
While, yes, there have been notable shifts to alternative foods, such as plant-based diets or even white meats, but the prominence of red meat itself is unlikely to fall from its high-standing grace in American society, due to its cultural roots and its economic benefits.
SOURCES
www.nationalchickencouncil.org/about-the-industry/statistics/per-capita-consumption-of-poultry-and-livestock-1965-to-estimated-2012-in-pounds/ [1]
www.usmef.org/news-statistics/statistics/ [2]
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2018/08/09/gargantuan-appetite-meat-says-america/ideas/essay
[3]
I agree with Sarah and Anugra, this information will probably not majorly affect the meat production industry. From my own personal experience, many people who choose to not eat as much meat or completely remove meat from their diet are doing so based on personal morals and values. I think it would be interesting to do a survey (poll) on that actually: whether or not people eat meat, and what are their reasonings behind it...
DO MY SURVEYYYY:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCVKVTB
As of now, I agree with the previous three comments posted so far, in that I also don't think the meat industry will be feeling much of an impact following these studies. Industries react only when the public reacts on an large scale, whether that be as a result of some sort of social taboo arising due to substantial evidence being released that would look shocking on a headline which impacts how the public views that industry, and/or their product becoming obsolete. The whole debate around red meat doesn't really seem to grab the public's attention, nor have the same threatening connotation as sugar does. Especially in America, where red meat is consumed three times more than the global average, I doubt something so ingrained in the culture can be brought down or elevated by studies which don't capture an abundance of mainstream attention. This is unfortunate however, since the meat industry does in fact have a substantial negative effect on the environment.
Info regarding trends in meat consumption in the US:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/AF54FD0E4A321394C09BC8087640AA0C/S1368980010002077a.pdf/trends_in_meat_consumption_in_the_usa.pdf
Info regarding the meat industry's climate change impact:
https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/field/field_document/20141203LivestockClimateChangeForgottenSectorBaileyFroggattWellesleyFinal.pdf
Post a Comment