According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, Americans were consuming 11 percent more food per capita in 2003 than they did in 1985. However, meat consumption during the same period rose by only 7 percent for a net 4 percent loss of the food market share. Detailed results are available on the USDA Web site.
The greater food intake, satirized in the prizewinning documentary “Super Size Me,” is largely responsible for the current epidemic of obesity, a precursor to diabetes and heart disease.
The relative drop in meat consumption may be attributed to widespread availability of tasty, wholesome soy-based meat alternatives and to growing public awareness of the devastating impacts of meat consumption on human health, environmental quality and animal welfare.
It may also testify to the effectiveness of public diet education campaigns such as “5 A Day” and “The Great American Meatout,” which is observing its 20th anniversary on March 20. There are Web sites available offering useful information for embracing a wholesome, nonviolent diet this spring.
Lawrence Rangel, Lewiston
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