Reducing Meat and Dairy Consumption: A Cultural Change Approach

Daly, Jane

doi:10.18848/1832-2077/cgp/v07i02/54909

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…One study acknowledged that cognitive dissonance leads meat consumers to avoid or resist evidence of the negative consequences of meat eating. 135 Social and cultural norms in this regard have been described as powerful and pervasive, 135 including the dissociation of meat from its animal origin in the language used to describe it (eg, using “beef” instead of cow, “pork” instead of pig). 136 A recently published qualitative study from Australia describes persistent underestimation of the environmental impacts of red meat by consumers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, many studies identified a co-dependency between governments and the RPM industry, being perpetually reinforced. One study found that any efforts by policy-makers to reduce RPM consumption would likely result in the mobilisation of “powerful interest groups.” 135 In the United States, for example, animal agribusinesses are worth around $125 billion, and are highly concentrated. This market concentration is supported by government subsidies which generally favour dominant firms over smaller competitors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the Political Challenge of Red and Processed Meat Reduction for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Sievert

Lawrence

Parker

et al. 2020

Int J Health Policy Manag

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Background: Diets high in red and processed meat (RPM) contribute substantially to environmental degradation, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the global burden of chronic disease. Recent high-profile reports from international expert bodies have called for a significant reduction in global dietary meat intake, particularly RPM, especially in high-income settings, while acknowledging the importance of animal-sourced foods to population nutrition in many lower-income countries. However, this presents a major yet under-investigated political challenge given strong cultural preferences for meat and the economic importance and power of the meat industry. Methods: A theoretically-guided narrative review was undertaken. The theoretical framework used to guide the review considered the interests, ideas and institutions that constitute food systems in relation to meat reduction; and the instrumental, discursive and structural forms of power that actors deploy in relation to others within the food system. Results: High production and consumption levels of RPM are promoted and sustained by a number of factors. Actors with an interest in RPM included business and industry groups, governments, intergovernmental organisations, and civil society. Asymmetries of power between these actors exist, with institutional barriers recognised in the form of government-industry dependence, trade agreement conflicts, and policy incoherence. Industry lobbying, shaping of evidence and knowledge, and highly concentrated markets are key issues. Furthermore, prevailing ideologies like carnism and neoliberalism present embedded difficulties for RPM reduction. The literature noted the power of actors to resist meat reduction efforts exists in varying forms, including the use of lobbying, shaping of evidence and knowledge, and highly concentrated markets. Conclusion: There are a number of political challenges related to RPM reduction that contribute to policy inertia, and hence are likely to impede the transformation of food systems. Research on policy efforts to reduce RPM production and consumption should incorporate the role of power and political feasibility.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%