Patterns of Red and Processed Meat Consumption across North America: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Comparison of Dietary Recalls from Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Sarah M. Frank, Lindsay M. Jaacks, Carolina Batis, Lana Vanderlee and Lindsey Smith Taillie
Additional contact information
Sarah M. Frank: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
Lindsay M. Jaacks: Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK
Carolina Batis: CONACYT—Health and Nutrition Research Center, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
Lana Vanderlee: Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), L’École de Nutrition, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC GIV 0A6, Canada
Lindsey Smith Taillie: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Close economic ties encourage production and trade of meat between Canada, Mexico, and the US. Understanding the patterns of red and processed meat consumption in North America may inform policies designed to reduce meat consumption and bolster environmental and public health efforts across the continent. We used nationally-representative cross-sectional survey data to analyze consumption of unprocessed red meat; processed meat; and total red and processed meat. Generalized linear models were used to separately estimate probability of consumption and adjusted mean intake. Prevalence of total meat consumers was higher in the US (73.6, 95% CI: 72.3–74.8%) than in Canada (65.6, 63.9–67.2%) or Mexico (62.7, 58.1–67.2%). Men were more likely to consume unprocessed red, processed, and total meat, and had larger estimated intakes. In Mexico, high wealth individuals were more likely to consume all three categories of meat. In the US and Canada, those with high education were less likely to consume total and processed meat. Estimated mean intake of unprocessed red, processed, and total meat did not differ across sociodemographic strata. Overall consumption of red and processed meat remains high in North America. Policies to reduce meat consumption are appropriate for all three countries.

Keywords: consumer behavior; nutrition policy; meat; diet surveys; environment and public health; cross-sectional study; socioeconomic factors; Canada; Mexico; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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