Why Red Meat Consumption is High in Finland?

In Finland, people are shifting toward a plant-based diet. However, their food purchases reflect a strong preference for red meat, reveals a new study.

Meat production is a significant source of greenhouse gases and widespread adoption of a plant-based diet is key to achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Consumption of Red Meat Increases Breast Cancer Risk
Red meat consumption has long been suspected of contributing to cancer development. Find out how much red meat is too much.

‘In Finland, regardless of the slow rise in the proportion of vegan, vegetarian and red meat-free diets, the prevalence of different vegetarian diets remains modest in Finland.’

The study was published in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation by Maijaliisa Erkkola at the University of Helsinki, Finland and colleagues.

Environmental advocates have pushed for a reduction in red meat consumption by transitioning to a plant-based diet. However, the attitudes and behavior toward meat consumption over time are not well-studied.

Purchasing Patterns for Red Meat

To better understand the consumer behavior around meat and plant-based proteins, researchers analyzed individualized purchase data of 29,437 customers of the leading grocery store chain in Finland by accessing their loyalty card information from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.

Study participants completed an online survey, responding to questions on their demographics, family structure, income, education, and attitudes about eating meat. The researchers then analyzed participants’ purchasing patterns for red meat, poultry, fish, and plant-based foods.

Plant Protein Vs Animal Protein: Vegetarian Diet Reduces Risk of Heart Disease and Death
Replacing 3 percent of protein from non-vegetarian foods such as red meat with plant proteins such as grains, nuts and vegetables can reduce the risk of death.

The researchers found that while the majority of participants agreed that they should eat less red meat and processed meat for health reasons, these beliefs were not reflected in their purchasing trends.

Red and processed meat accounted for 63% of protein purchases, and plant-based proteins accounted for only 8% of weekly purchases.

Reining in Red Meat Consumption Cuts Chronic Disease Risk and Carbon Footprint: Study
Reducing the intake of red meat consumption not only slashes the risk of chronic diseases but also shrinks carbon footprint by 28 million tonnes, states study published in BMJ.

Meat expenditures remained fairly stable during a two-year study period. Additionally, the study sample was not reflective of the general population, as highly educated people and women were overrepresented in the sample.

According to the authors, “Despite the media hype and accumulating evidence supporting sustainable protein sources, red meat preference and low regard for plant-based options are highlighted in purchase and consumption profiles. Regardless of the slow rise in the proportion of vegan, vegetarian, and red meat-free diets, the prevalence of different vegetarian diets remains modest in Finland.”

Frequent Red Meat Consumption May Up Heart Disease Risk
Red meat lovers beware: Frequently eating a diet rich in red meat may increase heart disease risk, reveals a new study.

Erkkola adds, “Red meat seems to be the most commonly purchased protein source, but our study still pointed towards richer diversity in customer preferences. Low income does not appear to be a barrier to buying more sustainable alternatives, as there is a wide price range within all protein sources.”

Source-Eurekalert