Number of the month: 26.7 percent of adults eat red meat at least three times a week

More than a quarter of adults in Germany ate red meat (such as beef, pork and lamb) at least three times a week in 2022. At 38 percent, the proportion was significantly higher among men than among women (16 percent). These figures do not include the consumption of poultry and processed meat. These are results of the GEDA 2022 study by the Robert Koch Institute.

A high consumption of red meat increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, bowel cancer and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, current meat production – especially of beef – leads to high emissions of so-called greenhouse gases, impacts biodiversity, produces harmful by-products such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and requires a high use of land and water.

Meat consumption has declined somewhat in recent years, but on average, it is still well above the maximum recommended 300 grams of meat per person per week. Therefore, consumption should be further reduced and plant protein sources such as legumes and nuts should be used more frequently instead.