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[ShadowSwordmaster]

This was an interesting article that was on the New York Times website yesterday.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/dining/beef-consumption-emissions.html?_r=1

The last decade or so has brought ample evidence that Americans are gradually changing their diets, driven by health concerns and other factors.

But a new study points to one change that is starker than many have thought: Americans cut their beef consumption by 19 percent — nearly one-fifth — in the years from 2005 to 2014, according to research released on Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The environmental group found that consumption of chicken and pork fell as well, though less drastically, as Americans ate more cheese, butter and leafy greens.

The research, which is based on data from the Agriculture Department and calculations using the same methodology as the Environmental Protection Agency, found that changes in the overall American diet reduced emissions by the equivalent of pollution from 57 million cars — despite population growth of about 9 percent

”Whether we realize it or not, Americans have been fighting greenhouse gas emissions with their forks," said Sujatha Bergen, a policy specialist in the Natural Resources Defense Council's food and agriculture program.

 

[highrider]

I've always felt it wasn't meant to be eaten regularly. As I've gotten older I really only have it on special occasions like Christmas dinner or the like. The taste is amazing, but I feel comatose when I eat it now.

 

[Goldenroad]

Could certainly be health related as the article states, but I know for me, part of the reason I don't eat as much beef as I once did is that it has gotten expensive here in Canada. A pound of lean ground beef can cost upwards of $7-$8, whereas I feel like when I moved out in 2005, that same pound of ground beef would have cost $3-4. Vegetables, beans, rice, etc, are just cheaper and the economy up here has never quite recovered from 2007-2008, so I'm going to guess that's the bigger reason why people are eating less meat.

 

[squidyj]

Could certainly be health related as the article states, but I know for me, part of the reason I don't eat as much beef as I once did is that it has gotten expensive here in Canada. A pound of lean ground beef can cost upwards of $7-$8, whereas I feel like when I moved out in 2005, that same pound of ground beef would have cost $3-4. Vegetables, beans, rice, etc, are just cheaper and the economy up here has never quite recovered from 2007-2008, so I'm going to guess that's the bigger reason why people are eating less meat.

I mostly eat pork for meat because of this.

 

[Poor GRIMES]

probably because more people are becoming woke to da gawd Chicken (and Seafood)

 

[Guevara]

We finally figured out how to cook chicken right.

 

[akira28]

Prions were in the news back around 06, I remember. Mad cow disease and all that.

I guess they stopped feeding us ground up spinal columns, but I guess we'll have to see.

 

[Bacon]

We finally figured out how to cook chicken right.

Yup

 

[Dany]

This is the beginnings of America's decline

 

[Haly]

I've lost my taste for it. I'll have a steak from time to time but in general I prefer the cleaner taste of pork and chicken.

 

[Digital-Hero]

This is the beginnings of America's decline

...of being overweight and lowering heart disease hopefully.

 

[Woo-Fu]

Too expensive for poor people, not hip enough for rich people, no middle-class left to speak of.

 

[DragonKnight]

Heavily, heavily cut back after learning how beef industry impact climate change. Best part is, that I was also able to convince the fam to cut back as well

 

[Ryouji Gunblade]

It's been really hard to reduce my beef intake when an Arby's opened up recently.

I'm eating more chicken and fish though.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Heavily, heavily cut back after learning how beef industry impact climate change. Best part is, that I was also able to convince the fam to cut back as well

Pretty cool to hear.

 

[HotHamBoy]

And 19% more soy filler product

 

[IsntChrisL]

I've been trying to make up for the decline by eating more red meat. Wingstop is still my joint though.

 

[Alex]

I stopped in the last few years outside of rare occasions. Mostly chicken or fish now.

 

[pokeystaples]

I have 1 steak a month and 1 burger a month and that's pretty much all my beef consumption unless someone makes some bomb ass brisket.

 

[Wafflecakes]

That is because it is expensive AF.

I have mostly subbed beef out for chicken and pork at this point. Only use beef for burgers and occasionally spaghetti.

 

[GoutPatrol]

Worldwide, beef consumption has stayed pretty flat over the past 30 years while chicken, pork, and farm-fed fish had skyrocketed. Cost has to be a big factor here.

 

[Alebrije]

All that beef is going to China , its consumption has grow a lot these years.

 

[ascii42]

Yup

That picture is giving me food poisoning.

 

[PantherLotus]

Good. Now fewer chickens and pork, America.

 

[Alienfan]

Good. I'm fairly hopeful one day our great grandkids will look back and view this time period as another dark age and us as monsters. Wondering why we did shit all to stop climate change and how so many of us were okay with eating and supporting the meat industry (in particular slaughtering pigs). I hope meat and milk becomes even more expensive / luxurious and the general decline we've seen for years continues. GOVTs really should start investing in lab grown meats. We're getting pretty good at making alternatives, they just need to be subsidised in the same way as meat

 

[pablito]

I'll admit that the main reason I cut back is cost.

But every time I eat beef, I'm pretty good on not eating beef for a long time. Once a month tops I think.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

I primarily ate chicken before it was cool.

 

[yanipheonu]

Its expensive, not great for you and once I knew how awful cattle is for the enviroment I've cut beef down to special occasions.

I do like a nice burger or steak once a month. But it certainly shouldn't be an every day thing.

 

[old]

If I eat less beef it's only because it costs so much now. I pretty much only buy beef on sale now.

Chicken and pork are cheap as fuck. Ground beef is $4 a pound if you want at least 80/20. Strip steak is now $15 a pound. Hell, even flank steak and skirt steak are never less than $8/lb.

 

[somecrazymember]

Cool

 

[whyamihere]

Where's the beef?

 

[Crimsonlink]

Man that chic fil A advertisement is really working as intended. Totally saving the cows lol.

 

[davidwhangchoi]

Where's the beef?

came here to say the same thing

 

[titiklabingapat]

The return of chicken thigh and leg has certainly helped. Dry chicken breasts does a great disservice to poultry lovers everywhere.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Yup

this is fake, right?

 

[Earthbound64]

Apparently not anymore.

(I'm not helping - I'm having Chicken Parmesan for dinner).

Where's the beef?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Meanwhile, since going low carb back in 2011, my beef intake is way up. I used to eat it only rarely, but now it's many times a week if not daily during some parts of the year.

I'll be having another ribeye tonight!

 

[perfectchaos007]

The return of chicken thigh and leg has certainly helped. Dry chicken breasts does a great disservice to poultry lovers everywhere.

Taco Bell recently went back to dark meat

 

[subwilde]

Effect from the Mad Cow Disease scandal?

 

[Skinpop]

Meanwhile, since going low carb back in 2011, my beef intake is way up. I used to eat it only rarely, but now it's many times a week if not daily during some parts of the year.

I'll be having another ribeye tonight!

Not the best for your health though.

 

[Bacon]

this is fake, right?

It's probably a goof.

Spoiler

Let's hope, at least.

 

[Vilix]

I've been trying to make up for the decline by eating more red meat. Wingstop is still my joint though.

You and me both. If they drop their Teriyaki flavor I'm going to a new place.

 

[rrc1594]

I stop eating beef.

 

[web01]

Price of beef is going way up while chicken and pork is cheap.
Alot of the good cuts of beef are being exported to Asian countries willing to pay much more for them. It is the same here in Australia, unfortunate result of globalization is that the people in beef producing nations are less able to afford eating it.

 

[Kifimbo]

Well, yeah.

 

[NervousXtian]

Health has shit to do with it.. it's the price. Shit's expensive now.

I miss .99c ground beef and 3.99 value packs of t-bones.

 

[Redd]

I would eat more steaks if it was cheaper. Hell I would eat a lot more seafood if it was cheaper. That's more expensive than beef. Chicken and Pork is what we usually eat because they're cheap.

 

[OniBarubary]

Speak for yourself!

 

[Goro Majima]

Health has shit to do with it.. it's the price. Shit's expensive now.

I miss .99c ground beef and 3.99 value packs of t-bones.

One thing I miss about living in Texas is that the local Randall's would have heavy discounts on 80/20 10lb packs of ground beef for .99c per pound.

Last week here in St Louis at Shop n Save it was $5.99 per pound for 93/7. 80/20 is usually 3.99! Shit is insane when chicken tenderloins aren't even that.

I need to look into buying bulk at CostCo I guess or buy a freezer and just having a grass fed cow butchered.

Regardless, I don't think I've ever eaten ground beef like I did when I was a kid in the 80s before chicken became an unstoppable juggernaut.

 

[ClosingADoor]

Good. Chicken and fish are better anyway. Hope it falls even more all around the world.