More than 95 percent of Americans eat meat and poultry and according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines technical report, the protein group is the only group consumed in the proper amount. Americans make meat and poultry products part of their diet because they are among the most nutrient dense products available and because they are enjoyable. This report from the Environmental Working Group appears to be an effort to throw a long list of concerns at the American public in hopes that some will stick. The report selectively cites literature while ignoring many studies that affirm the role of meat in the diet and the documented progress in reducing the environmental impact of livestock, meat and poultry production.
Claims about meat’s environmental impact
All food production impacts the environment, whether the food is a carrot, a peach or a pork chop. Data show that the U.S. meat industry has made enormous progress during the past two decades in reducing its environmental impact – strides that the report fails to acknowledge.
Since 1990, animal agriculture’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has remained nearly constant. On a national basis in the U.S., for example, all of animal agriculture accounts for about 3.4 percent of the total greenhouse gasses. This small number is impressive considering that during that time the U.S. has increased its meat production by almost 50 percent, milk production by 16 percent and egg production by almost 33 percent.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: American Meat Institute
