400 Million Fewer Animals Were Killed for Food Last Year Because People Are Eating Less Meat

[Ichingcarpenter]

Where there’s less consensus, however, is how to affect change. While many vegans believe Meatless Mondays and other cutting-back-consumption campaigns don’t push enough of a paradigm-shift, others argue that these are crucial first steps towards a more compassionate world.

Given that around 93 percent of people still eat meat, it’s difficult to imagine that everyone will cease doing so anytime soon. A world that eats far fewer meat, however, is already on the way. Meat consumption has been steadily declining in the U.S.—by 10% per capita since 2007, in fact.

In that year, for example, the U.S. raised and killed 9.5 billion land animals for food. As of 2014, that number plummeted by a whopping 400 million, says Paul Shapiro, Vice President, Farm Animal Protection for The Humane Society of the United States.

“What that means is that compared to 2007, last year almost half a billion fewer animals were subjected to the torment of factory farming and industrial slaughter plants–and that’s despite the increase in the U.S. population,” Shapiro explains.


http://iskconnews.org/400-million-fewer-animals-were-killed-for-food-last-year-because-people-are-eating-less-meat,4981/#gsc.tab=0

[merrily]

1. Very interesting. Thank you.

I don't eat as much meat as I used to, either, but do eat some and I do have products from animals, like eggs and cheese. Lately, though, my favorite meal is a huge vegan salad

I should probably find some vegan recipes online.

[GliderGuider]

2. We have a way to go yet...

And meanwhile, the wild animal population is suffering through a principle known as "competitive exclusion".

Maybe the answer isn't less people eating meat - it's less people, period.

[rurallib]

3. i think this is an amazing stat

if it blossoms into a a real trend this will be great.
This shows that public awareness is up and some folks are acting, which often spreads.
Everything has to start small and grow.
hanging habits is not easy and takes time, but it has to start to grow.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Well McDonalds burgers aren't selling as well

so that's part of the trend too on eating junk food

[rurallib]

5. making crap products that just scream "unhealthy"

actually helps highlight the problem.
Like the Pizza Hut hot dog crust, the KFC three level meat sandwich that I can't remember and who knows what other things.

Plus thanks to some woman named Obama, kids are actually getting some nutrition instruction.
Plus, it must be a real trend because you can actually go to a restaurant and get a vegan option. Capitalists smell the money in non-meat.

We changed last year, had a setback but are turning it around again. I must have saved half a dozen critters myself.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. I'd say that's part of it for me.

I stopped buying the cheap crap fast food that has 'animal meal' or 'byproducts' in it. So when I do eat meat, it's more expensive, so I eat it less often.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. It could also have to do with the price of meat

I don't buy nearly as much as I used to simply because the cost has gone way up, especially beef.

[NickB79]

8. That's what, a 4% drop?

As others have said, a nice start, but not exactly enough to make a big impact overall.

And in the meantime, global meat consumption is still going up, up, up: