Exploring the Link Between Diet and Sustainability in Europe: A Focus on Meat and Fish Consumption

Diana Kmetkova, Milan Ščasný (), Iva Zverinova and Vojtech Maca
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Vojtech Maca: Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, Prague, Czech Republic

No 2023/26, Working Papers IES from Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies

Abstract: Global food production practices and consumption patterns have changed notably in the last few decades. Current dietary patterns are characterized by increased consumption of refined sugars as well as higher intakes of heavily-processed and animal-source foods, which results in higher obesity rates and increased prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Moreover, diets high in animal products are associated with a larger environmental burden. The aim of this paper is to examine the association between the consumption of meat and fish and economic and socio-demographic factors, different consumption habits and behaviours of individuals in five European countries. Using household-level data, descriptive analysis is presented and regressions using Heckman’s standard sample selection model are conducted. The main reasons for not eating meat or fish are ethics, environment, taste and health. Our findings also suggest that though income results to be significant, its positive effect on meat and fish intake is rather small. Regarding fish, the price of groceries seems to have a significant negative impact while it does not affect the consumption of white meat. This indicates that if we want to lower the consumption of (especially red) meat, we should focus on other factors, such as gender, age, healthy habits and behavioural traits or values (especially factors that are part of the decisionmaking process during food purchases like price, taste, habit, family and appearance). Moreover, meat and fish intakes differ significantly among analysed countries, hence, the policy recommendations should be based on a local context.

Keywords: income; meat and fish consumption; animal protein; healthy and sustainable diet; behavioural analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C34 C38 I15 O12 O13 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2023-10, Revised 2023-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env and nep-tra
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fau:wpaper:wp2023_26

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