Nearly nine in ten Americans consume meat as part of their diet

Washington, DC, May 12, 2021 — A new Ipsos poll finds that 89% of Americans include meat as part of their diet. The poll also shows that a majority agree that eating red meat is part of the American way of life, and that those pushing to take red meat off the menu are trying to control what Americans eat.

Detailed Findings

1. Eighty-nine percent of Americans include meat in their diet.

• Republicans (97%) are more likely than Democrats (85%) and Independents (89%) to include meat as part of their normal diet.
• While only 10% of Americans have diets that do not include meat, there is interest in trying alternative diets. Over half of Americans say that they have at least a little interest in eating a whole food diet (69%), eating only cage-free and grass-fed meat products (62%) and eating only organic food (53%).
• Women are more likely than men to say that they are already doing Meatless Mondays or reducing the amount of meat they eat (18% vs. 10% of men) and eating only cage-free and grass-fed meat products (11% vs. 5% of men).
• Respondents are least willing to try soy-based meat alternatives such as tofu or tempeh (16%) and more willing to try jackfruit (38%), vegan mayo or cheese (26%) and plant-based burger alternatives (25%).

2. Three in five Americans (59%) agree that eating red meat is part of the American way of life.

• This sentiment is held more strongly by older Americans (66% of those ages 50-64 and 69% of ages 65+) than younger Americans (50% of those ages 18-34 and 51% of ages 35-49).
• Fifty-two percent agree that those trying to take red meat off of the menu are trying to control what Americans eat. Men (55%) are more likely to agree than women (48%), while those in suburban (55%) and rural (63%) areas are more likely to agree than those in urban areas (41%).
• A quarter of Americans (26%) believe that there is a movement in the U.S. to ban red meat. There is a big partisan split on this issue, with 44% of Republicans agreeing compared to 28% of Independents and 13% of Democrats.

About the Study

This poll was conducted May 7 – 9, 2021, by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,018 general population adults age 18 or older. The sample includes 102 Gen Zers, 215 Millennials, 236 Gen Xers, and 465 Baby Boomers. Generation Z includes ages 18-25, Millennials include ages 26-39, Generation X includes ages 40-55, and Baby Boomers include ages older than 55.

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.18. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on other sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The data were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, education, Census region, metropolitan status, household income, race/ethnicity by gender, race/ethnicity by age, and race/ethnicity by education. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2019 March supplement of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS). The weighting categories were as follows:

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–25, 26–39, 40-54 and 55+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Latinx, Asian, Other)
• Education (High School graduate or less, Some College, Bachelor and beyond)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)
• Race/ethnicity (White/Other Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Latinx, Asian) by Gender (Male, Female)
• Race/ethnicity (White/Other Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Latinx, Asian) by Age (18-44, 45+)
• Race/ethnicity (White/Other Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Latinx, Asian) by Education (Some College or less, Bachelor and beyond)

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President, U.S., Public Affairs
Ipsos
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

Kate Silverstein
Media Relations Specialist, U.S., Public Affairs
Ipsos
+1 718 755-8829
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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