Meat Consumption Research Articles

Dietary intake plays a pivotal role in sustaining optimal melatonin levels, while the relationship between dietary patterns and circulating melatonin levels remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the associations between dietary patterns, nutrient intake, and serum melatonin levels in the Chinese population. This cross-sectional study included 6,521 Chinese adults. Three dietary patterns were identified through principal component analysis. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the associations between dietary patterns and serum melatonin levels. The covariance analysis and partial least squares regression was used to evaluate the association between micronutrient intake and serum melatonin concentrations. The Dietary pattern 2 (DP2), characterized by high intake of fatty foods and red meat with the lowest Dietary Variety Score (DVS), and DP3 featuring high consumption of red meat, fruits, and vegetables but low intake of white meat and aquatic products with low DVS, were significantly associated with lower serum melatonin levels (DP2: β = - 0.12, P-trend < 0.001; DP3: β = - 0.13, P-trend < 0.001). Insufficient nutrient and quality intake of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B2, calcium, and magnesium was found in DP2, whereas DP3 showed inadequate intake of protein, cholesterol, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and iron. Specific dietary patterns, low dietary diversity and nutrient deficiencies are associated to reduced melatonin levels. These findings reveal distinct mechanisms linking overall dietary patterns to serum melatonin concentrations, underscoring the importance of appropriate dietary patterns and nutrients intake in sustaining optimal circulating melatonin homeostasis in humans.

Pork is a primary source of animal protein worldwide, and intramuscular fat (IMF) content is a key determinant of meat quality and consumer preference. To identify genetic regulators of IMF content, we leveraged RNA sequencing and whole-genome resequencing data from 79 Laiwu pigs renowned for high IMF content to conduct expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping. We integrated eQTL results with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from 453 Chinese Lulai Black pigs (a crossbreed of Laiwu and Yorkshire pigs), and systematically identified candidate regulatory genes for IMF content by incorporating weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and correlation analysis in this population. We identified 9,763 cis-eQTLs at the genome-wide level (p < 5E-08) and 1,337 cis-eQTLs at the suggestive level (p < 5E-06). A 2.02Mb cis-QTL region on Sus scrofa chromosome 9, containing 587 cis-eQTLs regulating MED17 expression, overlapped with an IMF-associated QTL detected by GWAS in Lulai Black pigs, a Laiwu-Yorkshire crossbreed. WGCNA identified three critical co-expression modules related to IMF content, with MED17 acting as a critical gene in a module linked to adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Correlation analysis showed MED17 expression was negatively correlated with IMF content (FDR = 1.58E-02). In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, adenovirus-mediated Med17 overexpression significantly reduced adipogenic differentiation and altered expression of adipogenesis-related genes (Pparg, Adipoq, Srebf1, Cpt1a, and Atgl), indicating that Med17 modulates adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. This study identifies MED17 as a novel regulator of IMF content in pigs, bridging genomic variation, gene expression networks, and phenotypic traits. These findings provide mechanistic insights into IMF deposition and highlight the potential of integrative multi-omics approaches for genetic improvement of pork quality traits in breeding programs.

ABSTRACT The exploitation of frogs for human consumption is one of the drivers contributing to their extinction or population decline. This study assessed the determinants of consumption intentions for the Togo Slippery Frog, a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Volta-Togo Highlands, using the Theory of Planned Behavior with an extended construct of Wildlife Value Orientations, and perceived susceptibility to zoonoses. Data were collected from 287 households and analyzed using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique in SmartPLS software. The findings revealed that attitude was the most important determinant in explaining the intention to consume the Togo slippery frog, followed by subjective norms. The study suggests that conservation campaigns and strategies to attenuate the consumption of Togo slippery frogs should emphasize attitudinal change. Local influential leaders should be involved in conservation campaigns due to the influence of subjective norms.

This paper explores the concept of alterity within “ethical” meat production and consumption, focusing on small-scale producers and consumers in a rural Mediterranean context. Drawing on a relational understanding of alterity as a process through which actors negotiate difference within capitalist foodscapes, the study examines how ethical commitments and socio-material practices co-produce what counts as “alternative.” Using qualitative interviews with producers of “ethical meat” and their consumers from a solidarity-based Alternative Food Network (AFN) in Le Marche (Italy), the paper investigates how producer–consumer relations, animal welfare, and ecological care are interlinked within an ethical meatscape. Despite differing perceptions of the AFN’s role, embodied exchanges and face-to-face trust emerge as key to sustaining ethical and environmentally conscious practices. By capturing the micro-social dynamics through which relational alterity is enacted, the paper contributes to debates on sustainable agri-food transitions and socio-environmental justice, showing how ethical and ecological outcomes are co-produced through human and more-than-human relations.

Background: Suboptimal dietary patterns constitute a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women, yet the global and temporal dynamics of diet related CVD burden remain incompletely characterized. Understanding how specific dietary components have influenced CVD outcomes in women from 1990-2021 can inform targeted prevention strategies across diverse settings. Method: Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 framework, we quantified age-standardized DALYs and deaths due to CVD attributable to dietary risks in women across 204 countries from 1990–2021. Dietary exposure estimates came from population surveys and were linked to CVD outcomes via meta-analytic relative risks. We calculated absolute counts and percentage changes over time, with stratification by age, year and location. Results: From 1990-2021, DALYs for CVD in women attributable to high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increased by 75%, followed by deficits in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids 48%, insufficient whole grain intake 33%, excessive sodium intake 24%, inadequate fruit consumption 23%, low seafood omega-3 fatty acids 18%, insufficient vegetable intake 15%, inadequate legumes 14%, low nuts and seeds 14%, and inadequate dietary fiber 2%. In contrast, DALYs related to high red meat consumption declined by 1%, while burdens linked to trans fatty acids and processed meats rose by 28% and 34%, respectively. Regionally, South Asia (SA) experienced the largest rise in CVD DALYs due to dietary risks, climbing from 6.76 million to 14.14 million (an increase of 7.78 million), whereas High-SDI regions saw a decline from 7.29 million to 5.17 million (a decrease of 2.12 million). Mortality attributable to dietary risks increased most markedly in SA 136%, followed by Low-Middle SDI 90%, Low SDI 83%, and Sub-Saharan Africa 78% between 1990 and 2021. Age-specific trends revealed that women aged 55 years and older experienced a 38% rise in deaths and a 31% rise in DALYs, whereas those aged 20–54 years saw a 17% increase in both deaths and DALYs over the same period. Conclusion: Over three decades, high sugar-sweetened beverage intake and insufficient whole grains, omega-6 fats, and fruits have driven rising CVD burden in women—most pronounced in SA and lower-SDI regions—while High-SDI areas saw declines. Tailored policies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages and boost consumption of whole grains, fruits, and polyunsaturated fats are urgently needed to reverse these trends.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are often energy-dense and low in nutrients. High consumption of UPFs has been associated with non-communicable diseases, premature mortality and environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to assess UPF consumption in relation to diet quality and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, previously not examined in Iceland. Data from the Icelandic National Dietary Survey (2019-2021, N=822) were utilized. The NOVA classification system was used classifying all food and drinks reported. Dietary GHG emissions were quantified using an open-source LCA database. On average, 45%±15 of the total calories consumed daily were derived from UPFs, ranging from 24% in the lowest quartile (UPFQ1) to 64% in the highest quartile (UPFQ4). The energy contribution of UPFs considered to fall within the Icelandic dietary guidelines was 4%±4. UPFQ4 had significantly lower consumption of e.g. red meat, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and higher consumption of e.g. refined grains, sweets, and soft drinks, compared to UPFQ1. UPFQ4 had a significantly higher energy intake, added sugar intake, and lower intake of e.g. proteins and iodine. The median [IQR] share of dietary GHG emissions was 21% [IQR:11,34] of total kg CO2-eq/day, while significantly lower in UPFQ4 compared to UPFQ1.Almost half of the daily energy intake of Icelandic diets was derived from UPFs, reflecting relatively poor diet quality. However, dietary GHG emissions were relatively low in high consumers of UPF, reflecting higher meat consumption in low consumers of UPF. Findings underline the urgency of policy implementation, aligning food consumption with dietary guidelines.

BackgroundThe climate crisis is the most pressing crisis of our time, requiring urgent mitigation measures at all levels of society. Among those is the need to increase pro-environmental behaviours.MethodsThe current study examined the role of social-psychological characteristics on pro-environmental behaviour and subjective well-being, using a nationally representative sample.ResultsResults indicated that environmental identity, climate change perceptions and direct experience of climate change were positively related to pro-environmental behaviours. More specifically, individuals with stronger environmental identity and heightened perceptions of climate change reported more frequent conservation behaviours (e.g., reducing heating, lighting, or energy use), greater engagement in sustainable transportation behaviours (e.g., carpooling, walking, or using public transportation), and higher likelihood of adopting food-related behaviours (e.g., reducing meat consumption and increasing vegetarian meals). Climate anxiety was positively related to all three pro-environmental categories of behaviours examined. Finally, engaging in these pro-environmental behaviours was related to higher levels of positive affect, negatively related to negative affect. Those relations were mediated by climate anxiety.ConclusionOverall, the findings offer insights into how to motivate climate action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Background Meat and vegetable consumption was each vital for maintaining human health condition. Periodic surveillance and assessment of population-level meat and vegetable consumption are critically important for tailored healthy eating intervention. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the consumption patterns of meat and vegetables among community-dwelling adults in regional China in 2023. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the first year of the post-COVID-19 pandemic in Nanjing Municipality of China. Participants were those residents aged 18 years or above and randomly selected from the whole municipality. The recommendations recently released by the China Nutrition Society in 2022 were used to assess participants’ meat and vegetable consumption level. Logistic regression models were used to identify potential influencing factors of meat and vegetable consumption. Results Among the 60,945 participants analyzed, the medians of meat and vegetable consumption were 700.0 g/wk (interquartile range = 375.0, 1,100) and 200.0 g/d (interquartile range = 100.0, 300.0), respectively. Moreover, 13.7% (95%CI = 13.4, 13.9), 18.1% (95%CI = 17.8, 18.5), and 68.2% (95%CI = 67.8, 68.6) of participants consumed meat under, within, and beyond the recommended level, respectively, whereas 71.1% (95%CI = 70.7, 71.4) and 28.9% (95%CI = 28.6, 29.3) consumed vegetables under and reaching the recommended level, respectively. Selected socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and behaviors, and chronic conditions were associated with meat and vegetable consumption. Conclusion A large proportion of community-dwelling adults consumed meat exceeding the recommended level, whereas a small proportion consumed vegetables reaching the recommended level in regional China in 2023. Moreover, disparities of meat and vegetable consumption existed in socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and behaviors, and selected chronic conditions. However, no causality could be inferred due to the nature of the cross-sectional study. For future tailored population-level interventions of healthy eating of meat and vegetables, particular attention should be paid to participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and behaviors, and specific chronic conditions.

The overuse of antibiotics in food animals encourages antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and leads to drug residues entering the human food chain. This study examined antibiotic residues in broiler chickens and the biochemical effects of consuming contaminated meat on Wistar rats. Thirty-two broiler chickens received therapeutic doses of fluoroquinolone, sulfonamide, gentamicin, oxytetracycline, neomycin, tylosin, and penicillin over two weeks, while the control group was given distilled water and standard feed. Meat from treated chickens was incorporated into the diets of rats for four weeks. Analysis using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and UV spectrophotometry revealed notable antibiotic residues in chicken muscle: penicillin (4.88 mg/g), tylosin (1.17 mg/g), gentamicin (0.31 mg/g), oxytetracycline (0.22 mg/g), neomycin (0.20 mg/g), sulfonamide (0.19 mg/g), and fluoroquinolone (0.015 mg/g), all exceeding United States or European maximum residue limits (MRLs). Residues were also detected in rat muscle, with penicillin (0.153 mg/g) and tylosin (0.138 mg/g) being the highest. Rats fed contaminated meat showed significant increases in liver enzymes (ALT up to 92.07 UI/L; AST up to 88.93 UI/L) and kidney markers (Na⁺ up to 183.93 mmol/L; creatinine up to 12.47 mmol/L) compared to controls. Hematological changes included elevated white blood cell counts (16.60 × 10⁹/L) and packed cell volume (53.17%). These findings confirm that consuming meat from antibiotic-treated poultry can transmit residues capable of causing liver, kidney, and blood abnormalities. Regulatory oversight and responsible antibiotic use in animal production are critical to protect public health.

A license to eat meat? Exploring processes underlying the effect of animal labels on meat consumption.

Comparison between the consumption of red meat with and without visible fat: associations with prospective changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in adults 40 years of age and older

What drives risky eating behavior: Applying an extended theory of planned behavior to raw or undercooked chicken consumption in Japan.

Associations between motivations for and against eating meat with four types of meat engagement.

Allergic disease prevalence differs between urban and rural populations. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between environmental and dietary factors and allergic diseases in both urban and rural settings. The results showed that the alarming increase in the incidence and severity of allergic diseases coincided with environmental and lifestyle changes, such as global warming, extreme weather and dietary modifications. Higher greenhouse gas emissions, consumption of fast food and fried meat, use of pesticides, and less exposure to pets, greenery, and environmental microbes are associated with increased rates of urban allergic diseases. The living environment influenced the microbiota of rural and urban children. Changes in environments and lifestyles influence the commensal gut, skin, respiratory, and nasal microbiomes and their human hosts, contributing to the rising incidence of allergic diseases.

This study explored dietary trends and urban-rural disparities in food consumption among older adults in China. A repeated cross-sectional study of adults aged 65+ years using data from four waves (2008-2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Multiple logistic regression models assessed daily vs. non-daily consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk products. Among 20 945 older adults, over half were female (51.44%) and 54.22% resided in rural communities. Most participants did not consume fresh fruit (83.23%), meat (67.21%), eggs (65.13%), or dairy products (79.89%) daily, although 64.84% consumed vegetables daily. Urban adults had significantly higher odds of daily consumption of fruit (OR = 2.06), meat (OR = 1.56), eggs (OR = 1.20), and dairy (OR = 2.01). The study highlights urban-rural disparities in dietary behaviours, emphasising the need for public health initiatives to improve healthier diets and expand dietary options, especially in rural populations.

Food preparation plays a key role in shaping how people perceive meat: It helps people to dissociate meat from its animal origin and allows them to eat meat without experiencing conflict. However, experimental research in this area mostly disregards or confounds two food preparation steps: disassembling and cooking. To test how disassembling and cooking affect perceptions about meat dishes, we conducted secondary analyses of a sample of omnivores from a U.S.-representative dataset ( N = 1,189). In this study, participants indicated meat perceptions (self-report) in response to a picture of one meat dish that varied in the degree of disassembling (i.e., whole parts vs. chopped/minced) and cooking (i.e., raw vs. cooked). Leveraging this experimental setup, multi-level analyses revealed that disassembling and cooking reduced compassion elicited by meat dishes. Disassembling also decreased general emotional arousal, while cooking reduced negative evaluations, conflict experiences in felt ambivalence, and specific negative emotions such as disgust and anger, while increasing valence perceptions more generally and the desire to eat the dish. Moreover, psychological network analyses showed that the relations of meat-related perceptions with each other do not differ significantly between food preparation steps. By offering nuanced insights into how food preparation affects conflict experiences as well as other affective and attitudinal meat-related perceptions, this research offers various theoretical and practical implications. We therefore discuss key considerations for future research on meat-related perceptions and identify when and which interventions may be most necessary and effective in encouraging reduced meat consumption.

Development and preliminary validation of the Meat Consumption Scale

Abstract Background: The cross-border areas of Ethiopia and Kenya are home to pastoralist communities that rely on livestock as a primary source of food and income, leading to frequent interaction between humans and animals and increasing the potential for exposure to health risks, including zoonotic diseases. Given limited access to healthcare in these areas, primary prevention efforts that raise individual and community awareness and promote sustained health behaviour change are paramount. Community conversations (CCs) are facilitated dialogues that engage community members in examining their perceptions and practices around a specific issue, while collaboratively identifying and developing solutions. Methods: CCs were piloted in three sites (one in Ethiopia and two in Kenya) to explore pastoralist communities’ awareness of zoonotic risks arising from daily human-animal interaction. Participants were women and men community members (n=69; 38% female) engaged with community platforms associated with the One Health for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihood (HEAL) project. Facilitators were trained on the CC methodology, documentation process and ethical community engagement practices. Guided after-event reflections with facilitators supported real-time analysis and validation of conversation outcomes, capturing valuable contextual insights in field reports and enabling thematic analysis. Results: Findings revealed that gender roles and cultural practices influence the health behaviours of pastoralist communities. Across sites, community awareness of health risks from daily human-animal interaction and associated preventive measures was limited and inconsistent. Hygiene and prevention practices were minimal, and communities often failed to connect animal and human health. Hand hygiene was primarily practiced to prevent animal infection rather than to protect human health. Despite some awareness of zoonotic diseases, such as anthrax and brucellosis, the consumption of raw meat and milk remained common in these communities. Conclusions: CCs have shown potential to effectively foster meaningful engagement among pastoralist communities, enabling collaborative analysis, shared learning, and coordinated action between communities and service providers. This study highlights that targeted social and behavioural change communication, combined with culturally appropriate community engagement approaches, is vital for improving health practices and mitigating zoonotic risks in pastoralist settings. Given the centrality of livestock to these communities, integrating hygiene promotion into animal health programs presents a strategic entry point for encouraging improved human hygiene practices, thereby reducing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. One Health impact statement The paper highlights the interconnected health risks faced by pastoralist communities due to close human-animal interaction. By raising community awareness of zoonotic diseases through CCs in cross-border areas of Ethiopia and Kenya, this work benefits both human and animal health by promoting safer practices, reducing disease transmission and improving community resilience. The One Health approach has been instrumental in amplifying impact by fostering collaboration across human, animal, environmental and social science sectors. This cooperation has enabled a holistic understanding of zoonotic risks, leading to integrated prevention strategies that would not have been as effective in isolation. Engaging women and men pastoralists as active participants is essential to exploring diverse perspectives, facilitating knowledge sharing within communities and co-developing culturally appropriate solutions.

BackgroundEncouraging the shift towards more plant-based diets in new generations is one of the major current challenges to preserve population and planetary health. Personal pledges to reduce meat consumption could motivate behaviour change, but have received limited scientific testing. We examined the effect of a “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge on immediate and long-term meat consumption of university students.MethodsIn January 2023, 366 university students (21 ± 3.2 years old) consented to participate in the “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge and were randomized to the intervention group (n = 187, challenge in February 2023) or the wait list control group (n = 179, challenge in June 2023). Neither participants nor investigators were masked to group assignment. Participants chose between three meat reduction objectives: consuming meat 0, 3, or 6 times a week. They received a meat-free recipe book and followed an Instagram account where motivational information was posted daily during one month. All the participants completed a food frequency questionnaire in January (T0, before), February (T1, during), and May 2023 (T2, three months after the challenge) and data on meat consumption were analysed using linear mixed models.ResultsThe participants in the “Eat less meat” one-month challenge reduced their meat consumption by -67 g/day (95% CI [-82; -53]) during the challenge and by -50 g/day (95% CI [-68; -31]) three months later. The decrease was greater than in the control group by -34 g/day (95% CI [-55; -14]) during the challenge, but there was no significant difference between intervention and control group at three months follow-up.ConclusionsThe “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge may be a promising strategy to drive short-term reductions in meat consumption and further work to improve longer-term effectiveness is now warranted.Trial registrationThe trial was pre-registered prior to data collection at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05752786).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-025-01831-7.

Abstract Carbon labelling has been proposed as a strategy to encourage cafeteria diners to reduce meat consumption, choose lower carbon-emitting meals and contribute towards global climate change targets. However, field-experimental evidence for label effectiveness is largely limited to trials in universities with student samples. This study evaluated whether the beneficial effects of carbon labelling observed in universities could be replicated in the wider workplace population through a natural field experiment in four call-centre cafeterias in Northern England. Baseline vegetarian uptake in the call-centre cafeterias was significantly lower than in previous university trials (7% vs 15–66%), potentially reflecting a more meat-attached population. The introduction of labels resulted in a 1.5 percentage-point shift from meat to vegetarian meals compared to 1.7–4.6 percentage-point shifts observed in university trials. The increase was almost entirely driven by higher vegetarian sales during the first week of the intervention, with little to no effect observed in subsequent weeks. No statistically significant changes were found in average cafeteria emissions. The findings suggest that carbon labels are not a panacea, and where worksite cafeterias have ambitious emissions targets, labels will need to be implemented alongside other measures.