In France, a lot of meat is eaten compared to the EU. The government is now calling on the population to limit their consumption of meat and sausage products.
02/12/2026, 03:3502/12/2026, 03:35
The new national strategy for nutrition and climate protection recommends increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grain products. People should limit their consumption of meat and sausage products and reduce their consumption of imported meat.
The French love meat: A man prepares pieces of meat at the World Butchers Competition in Paris. (archive)Image: keystone
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, per capita meat consumption in France was 85 kilograms in 2024, similar to 2016. Compared to the previous year, consumption increased by 2.1 percent. This means meat consumption is higher than in Switzerland. According to the industry association Proviande, per capita meat consumption in this country increased by 2.8 percent in 2024 and corresponded to more than a kilo of meat per person per week.
Meat production weighs heavily in the carbon footprint
The French government justifies the newly published advice with findings on healthy eating, but also with the impact of food production on the environment. Agricultural production accounts for 20 percent of France’s CO2 footprint and meat production accounts for 61 percent.
In the agricultural country of France, the most important producing country in the EU, the precise formulation of the consumption recommendations for meat had led to a tug of war behind the scenes. This led to the publication of the national strategy being postponed several times, as the broadcaster France Info reported. The Ministry of the Environment wanted to include a reduction in meat consumption in the strategy, but the Ministry of Agriculture only wanted to recommend a limit. The government itself wanted to replace the idea of reduction with “balanced meat consumption”.
Those who want to eat meatless or vegan often don’t have it easy in France, especially in restaurants. Discussions also often arise about meat-free menus in canteens. (sda/dpa)