Meat consumption in the Netherlands is stabilizes (2024)

FAQs

Do people in the Netherlands eat a lot of meat? ›

Dutch people report that 1.8 of their 7 weekly main meals are vegetarian. 4.4 of those meals include meat, and 0.8 of them include fish. In other words, 25 percent of all main meals eaten in 2023 were vegetarian, 63 percent included meat and 12 percent included fish.

The total per capita consumption of meat and meat products in the Netherlands in 2022 was 75.0 kg (based on carcass weight), a drop of more than 1 kilogram compared to 2021.

Meat Consumption

Which countries eat the most meat? According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data reported by website Our World in data, the United States and Australia are the top of the global meat-eating league with more than 120 kg consumed per capita in 2020.

The amount of meat we produce each year is definitely going up, but that doesn't mean Americans are actually eating more and more of the stuff. Thanks to our growing population, our meat consumption has only increased by 17 percent per capita between 1970 and 2022.

Dutch people are eating more plant products, like fruit and vegetables, unsalted nuts and legumes. They are eating less red and processed meat. They are also drinking fewer sugary drinks. Both children and adults are eating and drinking more healthily.

Pork, for example, is the most consumed meat globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, making up 36% of the world's meat intake. The popularity of pork is closely followed by poultry, which is a staple in many countries due to its versatility and affordability.

On a global scale, the average per capita meat consumption has increased by approximately 20kg in the last 50 years. Spaniards are leading the top of meat consumption in Europe with 94.04kg consumed every year.

Food prices in the Netherlands

The prices of fish, fruits, vegetables and dairy are also cheaper than in Europe. However, meat, oils and fats are priced above the European benchmark. This, however, does not mean that the prices of groceries are not going up in the country.

1. India - 3 kg per capita. A vegetable market in India. The world's second most populous, with an astonishing 1.3 billion people, India holds the distinction of consuming the least meat per capita.

Japan is an Asian economic powerhouse and a country renowned for its high-quality beef. In 2021, Japan exported 4,388 tons of beef worth $491 million, making it the most valuable per kilogram. Some of the most well-known beef varieties in the world are from Japan, including the Kobe and Wagyu beef families.

Which state eats the most meat? ›

Montana. Montana is renowned for its high consumption of red meat, particularly beef, driven by its strong ranching tradition and large cattle population. Studies reveal that Montana residents consume more red meat than anywhere else in the country, with an average intake of steaks and burgers three to four days a week ...

There are lots of people who enjoy consuming eggs, but there is one country that consumes more eggs than just about any other place on Earth. Per person, Japan consumes the most eggs every year.

By 2050, global meat consumption is projected to reach between 460 million and a staggering 570 million tons. 570 million tons would mean a consumption of meat twice as high as in 2008.

By one estimate, a complete phaseout of meat over 15 years would cut as much as one-third of all methane emissions and two-thirds of all nitrous oxide emissions. Water use would fall drastically. Biodiversity loss would slow.

Americans are now among the top per capita meat consumers in the world; the average American eats more than three times the global average. A growing body of evidence suggests Americans' taste for meat and animal products is putting them at greater risk for a range of health problems.

On a global scale, the average per capita meat consumption has increased by approximately 20kg in the last 50 years. Spaniards are leading the top of meat consumption in Europe with 94.04kg consumed every year.

Diced pork belly, or spek, is also a key ingredient in many recipes including a thick pea soup that is known as erwtensoep or snert. Beef (rundvlees) is another favorite meat in Dutch cuisine.