Belgians eat too much meat

21 May 2007

BRUSSELS – Belgian eat too much meat, according to a study by the Research and Information Centre of the Consumers’ Organisations (OIVO) and the Brussels environmental department.

This increased meat consumption poses a risk to the environment.

Meat consumption per capita has increased from 30 kilos a year in 1919 to just over 100 kilos a year in 2007. That means average daily consumption of about 270 g of meat.

Excessive meat consumption is not only unhealthy, it is also damaging for the environment. Forests are being felled in southern countries to provide room for more livestock. That means a drop in the amount of CO2 that can be processed by the forests. Eating more meat also means more pollutants in the air, water and soil.

Cattle farming accounts for 7 percent of the total emission of greenhouse gases in Belgium. The amounts of gases produced are in direct correlation to the amount of meat produced.

Not only CO2 is released but also substances like methane, nitrogen hemioxide, nitrogen and phosphorus are emitted into the environment.

OIVO urges consumers to reduce meat consumption to a maximum of 75 to 100 g a day.

Subject: Belgian news