Will Our Fascination with Meat Ever End?

It’s no secret that I love everything Italian. I fell in love with every single episode of the series with Stanley Tucci showcasing all that is wonderful about Italy. I was, as you would expect, appalled at some of his food choices, like offal, tripe, lampredotto and other weird animal parts that may have been traditional back in the day…and may even be enjoyed to this day, I always questioned that with all we know now about food and wellness, why these were the foods he chose to celebrate.

I understand tradition; I understand the need to respect our past; I understand that understanding where we come from informs who we are now.

But not every tradition needs to be celebrated. Some things are better left in the past. Once we know better, well, we know better.

So then I thought I would watch the ‘Searching for…” series hosted by Eva Longoria: Mexico, Spain and France. I love seeing other countries, some I have visited and some I hope to visit.

As I watched the series, I found myself increasingly distressed. Look. I work in television, so I know that meat sells. But wow. Watching Ms Longoria enjoy the beauty of these countries, the pastures, the cities and the traditions, culminating in her clapping her hands like a delighted child at Christmas and screaming, “So much meat; I am in heaven.” Watching her eschew anything remotely from vegetables, but declare that a deep-fried, baby pig’s head tasted like chicken as she ripped off an ear to taste made me see the series as out of touch with reality, because if this is Michelin star style eating, then no thanks.

These series were all made for American audiences and here is where it gets interesting. Plant-based eating is more popular and deeply embedded in Europe than in America. So why would they not include and celebrate that, I wonder.

Around 38% of Europeans follow a plant-forward (or flexitarian) style of eating. By distinct contrast, vegetarianism remains under 6% of the population here at home. Meat consumption remains consistently high.

European grocery stores lead the market trends with extensive private-label vegan options, making meat-alternatives more accessible and affordable. Countries like Germany and the United Kingdom have some of the highest grocery penetration rates for plant-based milks and ‘meats’ globally, driven by strong consumer awareness of environmental and climate concerns.

In Europe, some governments are actively encouraging mindful drinking and plant-heavy diets.

By comparison, the United States market leans heavily on meat proteins. While US consumers frequently buy plant-based milks, the market for processed meat alternatives has plateaued or declined in the US.

Additionally, while major fast-food chains like McDonald’s and KFC have maintained and expanded vegan/vegetarian menus across Europe, they have largely scaled back or dropped plant-based burger tests in America.

I’m not sure what this says about us as a culture. I doubt there are many people unaware of the science, the facts, the statistics about the impact of meat and other animal products on human wellness. Do we have our heads in the sand, convinced we will get through life unscathed by disease? Do we turn away from the cruelty we know exists in factory farming (in all animal farming, actually)? Do we have so little regard for the life of another creature?

I struggle with this and I do not wish to lecture, but watching the unbridled celebration of the taking of a life leaves me breathless. We trashed Billie Eilish as entitled and privileged when she announced that her tours would be vegan and minimize waste. We called her out of touch. But chewing on the ear of a deep-fried baby pig is in touch?

So how do we break our obsession with meat? Do we even want to change?

We know…or should know…that the impact of animal production on the planet is suffering under the weight of our desire for indulgence in animal foods.

Animal agriculture drives significant environmental degradation through extensive greenhouse gas emissions, massive water usage, widespread deforestation, and severe habitat loss.

It is responsible for a substantial portion of global food-production emissions, primarily due to methane from ruminants and nitrous oxide from fertilizers. The environmental impacts of animal agriculture span several critical areas:

Climate Change: Raising livestock generates a significant share of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—more than all modes of global transportation combined. Cattle and sheep digest food through enteric fermentation, releasing large amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Additionally, manure storage and the production of synthetic fertilizers release high levels of nitrous oxide, a GHG roughly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Deforestation & Land Use: The livestock industry is the leading driver of deforestation worldwide. The conversion of natural forests into grazing pastures and land to grow massive amounts of animal feed—especially for beef and dairy destroys vital carbon sinks and natural habitats.

Overall, livestock production utilizes nearly 30% of the Earth’s total land surface.

Is this not enough for us to begin…just begin to reduce our consumption of animal foods? What will it take for us to collectively say enough? Enough loss of life; enough cruelty; enough pollution; enough self-indulgence.

Will we embrace a way of living that is not only delicious, but that serves the purpose of our lives by making us strong and vital?

Or will we watch, entertained as celebrities celebrate the killing of animals in the name of tradition in much the same way as the emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned?