FRANCE – France has seen a notable decline in meat consumption per capita, with a decrease of nearly 6% over the past two decades, according to recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture and FranceAgriMer.
Despite this reduction, the current levels still surpass national dietary recommendations.
The report highlights that the average French citizen’s meat consumption dropped from 88.7 kg in 2003 to 83.5 kg in 2023.
This decline is particularly evident in beef consumption, which has fallen by 19%, from 26.3 kg per capita in 2003 to 21.3 kg in 2023.
Both beef and pork have reached their lowest consumption levels in two decades.
Conversely, poultry consumption has surged, with chicken intake rising from 12.1 kg per capita in 2003 to 23.3 kg in 2023, now comprising 28% of total meat consumption in France.
This increase has led to a significant reliance on imports, with half of all chicken consumed in France now being imported.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau has advocated for expanded factory farming to produce more affordable meat, responding to this growing demand.
While meat imports remain substantial, they have slightly decreased by 1.4% from the previous year, now accounting for about 30% of all meat consumed in France.
This overall decline in meat consumption comes after two consecutive years of growth during the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
However, in 2023, French citizens ate 1.4% less meat than in the prior year.
Currently, the average French person consumes around 1.6 kg of meat per week, which is significantly higher than the dietary guidelines that recommend no more than 500 grams of red meat and 150 grams of processed meat weekly.
The French Nutrition Society (SFN), comprising various public and private nutrition experts, has urged for a 25% reduction in meat consumption, equating to a weekly limit of 450 grams, in the upcoming dietary guidelines update.
