The Dutch are inveterate carnivores. On average, there is meat on the table 4.8 days a week. More than two in five Dutch people have meat on the table (almost) every day. However, a third indicate that they eat less meat now than a year ago. They do this mainly for health reasons, the environment and animal welfare. Triodos Bank investigated the behavior of the Dutch regarding meat consumption in the run-up to the National Week Without Meat (starting today). Striking:if meat eaters have to choose between never eating meat again and never going on holiday by plane again, seven out of ten choose never to fly again.
Men consider meat more important than women (91 versus 78 percent) and are less likely to reduce their meat consumption for the sake of the environment (65 versus 76 percent). Highly educated people are more often prepared to eat less meat or pay extra (meat tax) for meat. Only 3 percent never eat meat at all and 6 percent eat no meat four to six days a week. Young people mainly eat less meat because of the environment, while the elderly more often emphasize the health aspect.
The research results also show that many Dutch people are ignorant about the impact of meat. Only a third are aware that eating chicken is the least bad for the environment (compared to cows, goats or pigs). The amount of animal feed (13 kilos) and water (130 litres) required to produce 1 kilo of meat is often underestimated. Moreover, three in ten Dutch people would like to eat less meat, but they do not know how to approach this.
