Is the US Eating Less Meat? Separating Perception from Reality

November 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to USDA projections, per capita availability of red meat and poultry in the U.S. is expected to increase to 227 pounds by 2026, up from 226 pounds in 2025. This statistic presents a counter-narrative to the perception that the US is eating less meat, suggesting a more complex picture is at play.

Quick Summary

Despite growing interest in plant-based options, overall meat consumption in the United States remains high, with total volume and market value continuing to increase. This is primarily due to rising poultry intake, which masks a decades-long decline in beef consumption.

Key Points

Overall consumption is stable, but a shift is occurring: While aggregate per capita meat consumption remains high, it masks a significant long-term shift from red meat towards poultry.
Beef is declining, while chicken is rising: Per capita beef intake has decreased for decades, but soaring poultry consumption has kept total meat figures stable or slightly increasing.
Flexitarians, not vegans, are driving change: The movement towards plant-based options is primarily fueled by a large segment of flexitarians who are reducing their meat intake, not by a major increase in veganism.
Health and cost are major motivations: For consumers reducing meat consumption, health concerns and rising costs are more influential factors than environmental or animal welfare issues.
Gen Z and Millennials lead the dietary change: Younger generations are more likely to adopt plant-forward diets, indicating that future consumption patterns will likely continue to evolve.
Price-sensitivity and premiumization exist concurrently: Consumers are both seeking more affordable protein options like chicken while also driving growth in premium, grass-fed beef, showing a bifurcated market.

The Contradictory Data Behind US Meat Consumption

Public perception suggests a widespread shift away from animal products, yet statistical data reveals a more nuanced reality. While movements towards plant-based diets and alternatives have gained significant media attention, aggregate consumption figures demonstrate a different pattern. Several key trends influence America’s protein preferences, often pulling in different directions and leading to this confusion.

The Rise of Poultry Consumption

One of the most significant factors influencing overall meat intake is the dramatic rise in poultry consumption over recent decades. As beef consumption has experienced a long-term decline since the 1970s, chicken and turkey have more than filled the void.

Cost-effectiveness: Poultry is often a more affordable protein source compared to beef or pork, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Health perceptions: Historically, white meat has been perceived as a healthier, leaner alternative to red meat, aligning with dietary recommendations to reduce saturated fat intake.
Convenience: The market for convenient, ready-to-eat chicken products and quick-service restaurant (QSR) offerings has exploded, catering to busy lifestyles.

The Decline in Beef, But Not Demand

Per capita beef consumption has trended lower for decades, hitting annual lows in recent years. However, market analysis shows that factors other than reduced consumer demand are at play. Rising production costs, including feed and labor, have led to higher retail prices, which in turn reduces consumer purchasing volume. While some of the decline is demand-driven, particularly among certain demographics, a significant portion is attributed to price elasticity. The beef industry has also seen a push towards premium and grass-fed products, indicating a segmentation of the market rather than a wholesale rejection of beef.

The "Flexitarian" Influence and Plant-Based Alternatives

The plant-based movement is not driven primarily by strict vegans, but by a growing number of "flexitarians"—individuals who consciously reduce, but do not eliminate, their meat intake. This group is the primary driver for the market for plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs).

Market Growth: The market for plant-based foods, including PBMAs, has grown significantly, though it still represents a tiny fraction of total meat sales.
Consumer Motivations: Health, environmental concerns, and animal welfare are the leading reasons cited by consumers for reducing meat intake.
The Paradox: Surveys show a simultaneous increase in both the consumption of plant-based products and, among some groups, red meat. This suggests dietary habits are becoming more varied rather than simply shifting from meat to non-meat.

A Comparison of US Consumption Trends


Trend	Red Meat Consumption (Beef, Pork)	Poultry Consumption (Chicken, Turkey)	Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs)
Historical Trajectory	Decades-long per capita decline.	Decades-long per capita increase.	Recent surge in market interest and product availability.
Market Volume	Remains a major market segment despite decline.	Continues to grow, becoming the dominant animal protein.	Represents a small, but rapidly growing, market share.
Primary Drivers	Price-sensitivity and evolving dietary patterns.	Affordability, convenience, and perceived health benefits.	Health, sustainability, and animal welfare concerns.
Consumer Profile	Higher consumption among older demographics and men.	Widely consumed across all demographics due to cost and convenience.	Higher adoption among younger generations and women.

Conclusion: The Nuance Behind the Numbers

The question of "Is the US eating less meat?" does not have a simple "yes" or "no" answer. The total volume of meat consumed remains high, buoyed by the consistent and sustained growth in poultry consumption. However, beneath this overall stability, significant shifts are occurring. Per capita consumption of red meat, particularly beef, is declining due to economic and demand shifts, while the plant-based and flexitarian movements are gaining traction, especially among younger, more health-conscious demographics. The future of the U.S. diet appears to be one of diversification, with a broader range of protein sources—animal and plant-based—competing for space on the American plate.

How dietary choices and markets are evolving

Demographic shifts: Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are more likely to reduce meat intake and experiment with plant-based alternatives.
Market bifurcation: There is a growing divide between the mass-market dominance of poultry and niche, but fast-growing, premium and alternative protein segments.
Economic pressure: Cost remains a significant driver for many consumers, especially regarding choices between red meat and less expensive protein options.
Consumer awareness: Health concerns, food safety issues, and increasing transparency regarding production practices are influencing purchasing decisions.
Sustainability as a factor: Environmental impact is a motivation for some consumers to reduce meat consumption, though it is not yet the primary driver for most.

References for further information on this topic

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). The latest USDA data indicate 226 lb. of red meat and poultry and about 22 dozen eggs are available per U.S. consumer in 2025.
Gallup Poll. Nearly One in Four in U.S. Have Cut Back on Eating Meat.
Vox. Americans are eating less meat. And more meat. How?.
Sentient Media. Why Americans Are Choosing to Eat Less Meat.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, despite popular perception, the total volume of meat consumed per capita in the U.S. has remained stable or even increased slightly in recent years, largely due to a rise in poultry consumption offsetting a decline in red meat.

The decline in red meat consumption is driven by a combination of factors, including increasing prices, growing health concerns, and heightened awareness of animal welfare and environmental issues among certain demographics.

A flexitarian diet involves consciously reducing, but not eliminating, meat consumption. This group is significant because they drive the growth of plant-based meat alternatives and influence broader market trends, even though they are not fully vegetarian or vegan.

Plant-based meat alternatives are primarily purchased by flexitarians seeking to reduce their meat intake, rather than by committed vegetarians or vegans. While their market share is small, it is growing rapidly and represents a significant trend in dietary choices.

While environmental sustainability is a factor for some consumers, particularly younger generations, recent studies indicate that health and price are far more dominant motivations for reducing meat intake for the majority of Americans.

Poultry plays a dominant role, with per capita consumption rising steadily for decades, primarily driven by its affordability and perceived health benefits. This increase is a key reason why overall meat consumption has not declined despite reduced red meat intake.

Data indicates that younger generations (Gen Z and millennials), women, and urban residents are more likely to report reducing their meat consumption compared to older, male, and rural demographics.