Beef producers outraged by UN pushing Americans to limit meat consumption: 'Misguided'
The United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) is expected to announce the guidance at the COP28 summit in December. Richer nations such as the U.S. and Australia will be asked to curb their “overconsumption” of meat. Developing nations, though, will be advised to pick up the slack in meat production to meet nutritional deficiencies.
Hunter Ihrman, a spokesperson for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, told The National Desk (TND) Wednesday the recommendation could negatively impact consumers by raising the price of foods that often compete with meat. Such an impact could also negatively impact Americans’ diets, he said.
“Solutions that seek to reduce meat consumption are misguided and will only lead to limited consumer choice and higher food prices,” Ihrman told TND. “At a time when malnutrition plagues countries across the world, a reduction of high-quality animal protein would disproportionately impact consumers who can ill-afford to pay more and are ultimately at the highest risk of malnutrition.
Ihrman continued, noting that meat production is not a major contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), beef cattle are responsible for only 2% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S,” Ihrman said. “Additionally, U.S. beef cattle emissions account for less than 0.5% of the world’s GHG emissions.”
Ihrman said the guidance would not lead to lasting or impactful change despite what the United Nations' intentions may be.
“Reducing beef consumption in the U.S. is not a realistic or impactful solution for climate change,” Ihrman said. “America’s beef producers and consumers around the globe deserve real solutions to the climate issue, not artificial barriers to protein consumption that will do nothing to solve the world’s climate issues.”
Lawmakers are weighing in on the anticipated guidance as well. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., slammed the "woke" United Nations Tuesday, claiming the intergovernmental organization wants "to starve Americans by mandating meat reduction policies." Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., floated the idea of defunding the United Nations over the request.
An August study found almost half of U.S. emissions come from the country's richest 10% of households. Researchers recommended a “carbon tax” be imposed on those households to help quell the issue.
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