English: writing task Food Blog

Noah Meulenberghs 5ET                                   10 21/01/2019

How has the consumption of meat changed in our food culture?

According to FAOstats, the average total meat supply per capita in 2013 in Belgium is 69.93 kilograms. This number has increased by approximately 20 kilograms since 1961. Although the consumption of meat noticeably augmented, negative attitudes against its consumption

are still frequently expressed. Momentarily, about 75 million people across the world are vegetarians by choice. (Leahy, Lyons, & Tol, 2010)

The reasons why people don’t like meat can be separated in four main segments. The first and most popular one being the way of modern production and processing of meat. The second reason is the fact that eating meat simply means eating a dead animal and that the animal should be killed for you to be able to eat it. The third reason has to do with culture and especially religion. The fourth most popular argument for not eating meat is health reasons. The mass production of meat nowadays hasn’t had a positive outcome for the quality, healthiness, and living conditions of the animals.

Most people are aware of these things, but think that they would suffer from a lack of essential nutrients like proteins if they would stop eating meat. They also feel the need to eat meat at least one time a day.

Back in the days, meat was more the type of product for the elite as most people couldn’t afford it. Now that most Western people can afford meat, they start to get much more critical. This is also thanks to the globalization that provides a huge variety of products and replacements for meat.

Although meat consumption is still growing over the years, vegans and vegetarians are more popular than ever before. I predict that this won’t change in the future but I believe that one day, when everything we eat is genetically created precisely to feed human beings, we will completely stop consuming meat.