Kristi King, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Can you imagine eating 203 pounds of meat?
That might sound like a lot. But that’s the projected average consumption of meat per American for 2012. And, it’s 12 percent lower than five years ago, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture.
USDA reports state that higher prices will cause people to eat less meat.
Other groups detail numbers of other factors that say people are concerned about the environmental impact and ethics associated with the entire industrial process.
Also, there are health concerns. The Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins reports eating less meat will help Americans cut saturated fat from their diets.
A number of celebrities, including Oprah, are backing a Meatless Mondays movement, USA TODAY reports.
If you’re eating more veggie-heavy meals, many restaurants are ready to serve you. More chefs are getting creative with meat-free options.
Meat prices are expected to rise in the middle of this year when supplies get tight. Ranchers already have sent large portions of their herds to market because of drought conditions in the South, Southwest and Texas.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
