World meat consumption is expected to decline by 3% this year according to FAO

Meat lovers are not on the verge of extinction, however their appetites seem to be moderating. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), per capita meat consumption in the world is expected to decline by 3% compared to 2019, bringing to 5% the decline since 2018.

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At issue, as Les Échos reminds us , the economic crisis as well as the containment measures. Many households preferred to reduce the supermarket bill and move away from meat products. The closure of restaurants during the lockdown did not help and weighed on demand.

Another explanation: the gigantic Chinese market (40% of world pork consumption) has been badly affected. Chinese authorities have warned residents about hygiene in the markets, which has discouraged some meat consumers.

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For France, the drop in meat consumption is nothing new. In 2018, a Credoc study indicated that the consumption of meat, especially beef, had fallen by 12% in the space of ten years.