A study conducted by Tulane University and funded by a grant from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) found that half of all beef consumed in a 24-hour period is consumed by 12% of Americans.
While nearly one-third of the beef consumed were cuts such as steak and brisket, the majority was from what the study called mixed dishes such as burgers, burritos and tacos, sandwiches, soup and pasta.
The study also found that males were more likely than females to consume this diet. “Animal agriculture, especially beef, is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. It’s a leading cause of climate change, habitat loss, water pollution and pesticide use,” said Mark Rifkin, senior food and agriculture policy specialist at CBD.
“As the harms from climate change continue to bear down on us, we can’t afford to ignore the devastating chaos that meat-heavy diets dish out.”
CBD cited a separate study in 2020 funded by the organization and conducted by Tulane University and the University of Michigan, showing a 90% reduction in beef consumption, along with cutting other meats by half, will prevent 2 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution—or roughly the equivalent of emissions from half of the world’s vehicles—by 2030.
