U.S. perspective: Meat demand outdoes meat avoidance

Despite ample discussion of health, environment, and animal welfare effects of meat production and consumption, this article documents past, current, and projected consumption patterns reflecting robust meat demand in the United States. There is some evidence of meat avoidance behavior among a segment of the population, including younger, higher educated, higher income consumers in the Western United States. At the same time, the majority of U.S. residents self-declare as regularly consuming products from animals, and there is evidence of strong demand growth for meat products in recent years. Key factors influencing protein purchasing decisions are presented revealing critical roles of taste, freshness, and safety. Combined this article summarizes both the aggregate and more refined, household-level situation underlying robust meat demand in the U.S.