Factors Affecting U.S. Beef Consumption
Beef is consumed frequently in the United States, averaging 67 pounds per person per year (2005). Findings based on the 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) indicate that most beef is eaten at home. Annual beef consumption per person is highest in the Midwest (73 pounds), followed by the South and West (65 pounds each), and the Northeast (63 pounds). Rural consumers eat more beef (75 pounds) than urban and suburban consumers (66 and 63 pounds). Beef consumption also varies by race and ethnicity. Blacks eat 77 pounds of beef per person per year, followed by 69 pounds for Hispanics, 65 pounds for Whites, and 62 pounds for other races. Low-income consumers tend to eat more beef than do consumers in other income households. [Summary excerpted from record.]
At the time of this report, beef was identified as the preferred red meat, representing 56% of all red meats consumed in the U.S., and 20% of consumer meat protein intake worldwide.
Understanding the basic factors underlying beef consumption may enable the industry to improve analysis of the supply and demand shifts in the U.S. Examples of trends include:
- Changes in the U.S. racial/ethnic landscape and the aging of Americans will likely reduce per capita beef demand.
- The discovery of mad cow disease (BSE) in the United States.
- The desire to lose weight through high-protein, low carbohydrate diets.
Other trends in consumption identified in this study:
- Consumers are eating more meals away from home, but most of the beef consumed was purchased at retail stores and consumed at home, with the exception of ground beef.
- Blacks had the highest beef consumption per capita of all races, followed by Hispanics, Whites, and other races.
- A higher percentage of ground beef per capita was eaten away from home by Blacks over any other racial/ethnic group.
- Midwest consumers ate 7 pounds more beef per capita than consumers in other regions.
- Low income consumers ate more beef than middle or high income consumers, primarily in the form of ground beef.
- As income rises, eating out rises, therefore high income consumers eat more beef away from home than middle or low income consumers.
- Average annual consumption of beef by males is 38 pounds per capita higher than for females. Highest per capita consumption for males was noted at ages 20-39, and for females at ages 12-19.