Is the Rise in Meat-Eating in Developing Countries Just a Temporary Trend?
The consumption of meat around the world is the subject of much discussion in animal advocacy circles. While vegetarianism and veganism gain traction in North America and Europe, it is generally seen as a given that meat consumption is on the rise in countries such as China and India, where economic development and the human population are increasing. This paper from the journal Meat Science examines trends in global meat consumption, coming from the perspective that “nutrition transitions” do not simply boil down to economics, but are instead “influenced by a wide range of factors such as income, technical change, urbanisation and culture.” The study examines how diets are changing around the world with regards to meat-eating, and also how they are changing in terms of consuming fats, grains, whole foods, sugars, and other components.
The research finds that, though it is true that there is a growing meat-consuming middle class in many countries, the “next shift” beyond this is a “behavioural change towards consuming higher-quality fats, more whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and particularly less meat.” In other words, though the trend of rising meat consumption among the middle class in China is a real phenomenon, it is part of a longer trajectory. The author notes, however, that this trajectory is not always uniform, and is very much affected by the cultural context. Also, in many cases, “ethical motivations play a special role.” Though the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization does expect that animal product consumption is projected to increase “from 29% to 35% in 2030 and 37% in 2050,” the author notes that “the major part of the growth in meat demand has already taken place.”
There are many reasons for the rise in meat-eating in developing countries, but these justifications are not static. “The consumption of meat is a two-sided story,” notes the author. “In developing countries, consuming meat means positive effects for health, while in developed countries consuming too much meat has negative health impacts. In addition, food consumption in general and meat consumption in particular is strongly influenced by culture, as for instance beef is not be consumed in some cultures and pork in others.” Though increasing animal product consumption may be a way of showing off status – as was the case in the United States during a certain era — the increased status does necessarily last, and may eventually become a marker of an ethical gap. “Meat production and consumption are increasingly contested, the production of meat consumes a considerable amount of resources, both directly and indirectly through the cultivation of feed, and has several negative impacts on the environment.” For animal advocates, this study serves as an encouraging reminder that rising meat-consumption in the developing world is not necessarily an endpoint, but can be seen as part of a larger arc of history.
Original Abstract:
The nutrition transition encompasses a set of major shifts in human diet and nutritional status, throughout history and that is influenced by a wide range of factors such as income, technical change, urbanisation and culture. High-income societies are witnessing a shift towards diets with more fat, sugar, processed foods and less fibre, leading to a sharp increase in non-communicable diseases, such as obesity. This trend can also be observed among the middle classes of emerging countries. However, increasing evidence suggests that a final shift is occurring, following behavioural change towards consuming higher-quality fats, more whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and particularly less meat. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, an assessment is made of where different countries are located in the different phases of the nutrition transition. Second, a qualitative investigation is made into the factors enhancing and hindering the latest phase of the transition—particularly towards less meat consumption—taking into account cultural differences between consumer groups across countries. The analysis of both objectives generates insights into possible future scenarios of meat consumption.