Abstract
Promoting healthier and more sustainable diets by decreasing meat consumption represents a significant challenge in the Anthropocene epoch. However, data are scarce regarding the effects of nationwide meat reduction campaigns. We described and analyzed the correlates of a national campaign in France (called “Green Monday”, GM) promoting the weekly substitution of meat and fish by other nutrients. Two cross-sectional online surveys were compared: a National Comparison sample (NC) of the French general population and a self-selected sample of participants who registered for the Green Monday campaign. A follow-up study was carried out in the GM sample, in which participants were asked during 15 weeks whether or not they had substituted meat and fish. There were 2005 participants aged 18–95 (47.7% females) in the NC sample and 24,507 participants aged 18–95 (77.5% females) in the GM sample. One month after the beginning of the campaign, 51.2% of the respondents reported they had heard about Green Monday in the NC sample, and 10.5% indicated they had already started to apply Green Monday. Logistic regression analysis showed that compared to the NC sample, participants belonging to the GM sample displayed a higher rate of females, Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.26, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.86–4.71, were more educated, OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.28–1.36, had higher self-rated affluence, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.42–1.58 and the size of their vegetarian network was greater, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.41–1.58. They reported a slightly higher frequency of meat consumption, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10, while their frequency of fish consumption was lower, OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.76–0.87. Finally, the personality dimension Openness was more strongly endorsed by participants in the GM sample, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.65–1.93. A multiple regression analysis indicated that Openness also predicted the number of participation weeks in the GM Sample (beta = 0.03, p < 0.009). In conclusion, specific demographic and personality profiles were more responsive to the national campaign, which could inform and help to shape future actions aiming at changing food habits.
Highlights
IntroductionThe environmental footprint of meat production and the adverse health consequences of excessive meat consumption, such as risks of cancer [2], heart diseases [3], strokes [4,5,6], type 2 diabetes [5], and obesity [7,8] are well-documented [9,10,11,12]
Food has a major impact on human health and the environment in the Anthropocene epoch [1].In particular, the environmental footprint of meat production and the adverse health consequences of excessive meat consumption, such as risks of cancer [2], heart diseases [3], strokes [4,5,6], type 2 diabetes [5], and obesity [7,8] are well-documented [9,10,11,12]
Beyond the comparison of participants signing in for Green Monday with a national sample, we investigated the contribution of every variable exposed above on the statistical prediction of the intensity of participation, which was estimated by the number of weeks participants indicated they put Green Monday into practice from the first to the fifteenth week after the launch of the national campaign
Summary
The environmental footprint of meat production and the adverse health consequences of excessive meat consumption, such as risks of cancer [2], heart diseases [3], strokes [4,5,6], type 2 diabetes [5], and obesity [7,8] are well-documented [9,10,11,12]. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1694 suboptimal diet based on 15 mortality and morbidity risk factors and recommended to limit the intake of red meat and processed meat in Western Europe and to increase the consumption of vegetables and whole grains [13]. The widespread non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in industrial animal food production increases the risks of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria [16]. It is estimated that cattle are responsible for 14.5% of worldwide global greenhouse gas emission [20,21,22]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
