September 2023

Abstract:

Objective

Cultured meat is considered to be a viable alternative to conventional flesh to satisfy the increasing human demand for meat. However, current cultured meat products fail to meet consumer expectations. This paper aims to summarize existing methods of cultured meat production, especially 3D bioprinting of cultured meat, which is an emerging approach with unique advantages. By discussing the advantages and shortcomings of the existing techniques, the prospect for the future development of cultured meat is provided.

Methods

The potential ecological sustainability of cultured meat is evaluated in order to determine the necessity for its development. The advancements and limitations of cultured meat based on tissue engineering, 3D printing of meat, and 3D bioprinting of cultured meat are discussed. Future trends in 3D bioprinting of cultured meat are predicted, as well as potential challenges in this field.

Results

(1) Cultured meat is an ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional meat. (2) Cultured meat based on tissue engineering has allowed the creation of cultured muscle, adipose, and multi-component meat. The issues are that the shape of the products is unpredictable, and the process of producing large-size and multi-component cultured meat is arduous, which is not conducive to sustainable manufacturing. (3) 3D printing has been utilized in the customized processing of meat to achieve personalized demands. However, it relies on natural meat for its raw materials and cannot replace livestock production. (4) There have been preliminary attempts to use 3D bioprinting technology for cultured meat production. It combines the advantages of tissue engineering and 3D printing, which is able to create cultured beef, pork, and seafood. (5) The potential advantages of 3D bioprinting of cultured meat are higher quality and yield, enhanced cost-effectiveness, and superior ecological sustainability. (6) In the future, 3D bioprinting of cultured meat will move towards multi-component products, integrated fabrication, and cloud manufacturing. (7) The urgent issues in 3D bioprinting of cultured meat are the development of edible and printable biomaterials, the advancement of bioprinting techniques, and the life cycle assessment of manufacturing process.

Conclusion

3D bioprinting is a promising avenue to improve the quality and yield, reduce production costs, and enhance the ecological sustainability of cultured meat. It may allow people to satisfy the growing demand for meat in a sustainable manner.

Guo, X., Wang, D., He, B., Hu, L., & Jiang, G. (2023). 3D bioprinting of cultured meat: A promising avenue of meat production. Food and Bioprocess Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-023-03195-x

Abstract:

Addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are critical global challenges. As a substantial contributor to emissions, animal-based products are under increasing scrutiny. Animal-free dairy products provide a potential. Although understanding consumer acceptance of these products is crucial, the literature on this topic is scant. This study investigates the perception and acceptance of animal-free dairy among German consumers (N = 1,487) using an online survey with five information treatments (general and topic-specific information about animal-free cheese, gene-modified organisms, animal welfare, environmental concerns, and farmer existence). The acceptance of animal-free dairy was measured by the respondents' willingness to try, substitute, buy, and regularly buy animal-free cheese. Acceptance was found to be comparatively lower than in past studies, although still prevalent among 45.65 % of consumers. Notably, there were significant variances in consumers' perspectives toward animal-free cheese, causing an irregular distribution in their willingness statements. Multi-group analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that consumer acceptance did not significantly differ between treatment groups. However, individual analysis revealed that the willingness to buy animal-free cheese was positively influenced by perceived benefits and perceived sustainability. Conversely, perceived risks decreased this willingness. Positive attitudes toward farming and knowledge about farming increased perceived risks, while high social trust lowered them. Attitudes toward animal welfare and social trust positively influenced perceived benefits. These findings can be applied to inform and facilitate market introduction strategies of animal-free dairy products for producers and policy makers, providing insights into consumer acceptance of these products in Germany.

Kossmann, H., Schulze, H., Mergenthaler, M., & Breunig, P. (2023). Acceptance of animal-free cheese products: Evidence from an information experiment in Germany. Food Quality and Preference, 104984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.104984

Abstract:

The importance of functionality in food has led to the development of a potential market for ingredients such as dietary fiber and alternative proteins, expanding their insertion in beverages and cheese and meat analogues. Alternative proteins include various production processes aimed at the plant, fermentative, and cell culture products. There is a worldwide trend of innovative products made by combining technologies to reach this market niche. Embrapa has developed plant-based products, such as milk, cheese, and hamburger analogues, based on babassu coconut and cashew nuts, freeze-dried cashew fiber, and alternative proteins, such as chickpeas, lentils, and the microalgae Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis). The babassu coconut cheese analogue was processed by crushing the kernels to obtain the water-soluble extract, pasteurizing, fermenting by mixed cultures and heating the water-soluble extract fermented with soy, starch, agar, and salt to form the dough, followed by packaging and storage at 4°C. The hamburger analogues based on freeze-dried cashew fiber, lentils, or chickpeas, and freeze-dried Spirulina microalgae were added with other ingredients used in traditional hamburgers, followed by molding and freezing at -18 oC. The hamburger analogue had a protein content of 1418% on a dry basis, and the babassu coconut analogue was 4.17%, and both achieved a sensory acceptance of 7 on the 9-point hedonic scale. The products achieved purchase intention values of 3.7 and 4.0 respectively, showing market potential to meet the demand of consumers looking for functional and tasty foods. 

Benevides, S. D., Wurlitzer, N. J., Dionisio, A. P., Deborah dos Santos Garruti, Guilhermina Maria Vieira Cayres Nunes, Chagas, B. A., Juliana Maria Rabeilo Bessa, & de Sousa, P. H. M. (2023). Alternative protein and fiber-based cheese and hamburger analogues: Meeting consumer demand for differentiated plant-based products. Chemical Engineering Transactions. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET23102005  

Abstract:

Rising incomes across low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) lead to a lower consumption of starchy staples and create a growing demand for high-quality animal protein, an observation referred to as Bennett’s law. This dietary shift from plant-sourced to animal-sourced proteins has also been referred to as the LMIC protein transition. At this time, there are rising concerns that current livestock production is highly resource intensive and may not meet the growing global demand for high-quality protein. Alternative plant-based proteins, derived from new technologies and often fortified with micronutrients, are intended to close the LMIC nutrient gap. However, data from LMIC suggest that the income-driven selection of animal proteins is aspirational and varies by stage of economic development. Food balance sheets from higher-income countries indicate that meat consumption peaks only at very high incomes. Will plant-based alternative proteins satisfy the growing LMIC demand for animal-sourced foods, thereby negating Bennett’s law? Current evidence suggests otherwise.

Drewnowski, A. (2023). Alternative proteins in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) face questionable future: Will technology negate Bennett’s law? Current Developments in Nutrition, 101994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101994

Abstract:

Consumer interest in plant-based meat alternatives (hereafter PBMAs) is growing due to health and environmental concerns. The reception to animal meat alternatives, however, is lukewarm. Message framing can persuade consumers to consider PMBAs. The purpose of this paper to explore current knowledge of the effects of message framing (negative vs. positive) and the persuasiveness of health and environmental appeals toward PBMAs. The findings of the review suggests that positive-framed messages tend to be more persuasive than negative messages, and the description of health benefits from eating PBMAs are more appealing than the description of environmental issues in promoting PBMAs. Consumers want to feel good about their food decisions that affect their health. Younger consumers are more likely to try PBMAs than older consumers. Suggestions for future message framing research for promoting PBMAs are discussed.

Dobson, D. (2023). An exploration of the effects of message framing on plant-based meat alternatives. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4559513

Abstract:

Alternate proteins are gaining popularity as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to animal-based proteins. These proteins are often considered healthier and are suitable for people following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Alternative proteins can be recovered from natural sources like legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds, while single cell proteins (mycoproteins), and algal proteins are being developed using cutting-edge technology to grow fungus, yeast and algal cells in a controlled environment, creating a more sustainable source of protein. Although, the demand for alternative protein products is increasing, there still happens to be a large gap in use among the general consumers mainly stemming from its lower bioavailability, lack of nutritional equivalency and reduced digestibility compared to animal proteins. The focus of the review is to emphasize on various sources and technologies for recovering alternative proteins for vegan diets. The review discusses physicochemical properties of alternative proteins and emphasise on the role of various processing technologies that can change the digestibility and bioavailability of these proteins. It further accentuates the nutritional equivalency and environmental sustainability of alternative protein against the conventional proteins from animals. The food laws surrounding alternative proteins as well as the commercial potential and consumer acceptance of alternative protein products are also highlighted. Finally, key challenges to improve the consumer acceptability and market value of plant-based proteins would be in achieving nutrient equivalency and enhance bioavailability and digestibility while maintaining the same physicochemical properties, taste, texture, as animal proteins, has also been highlighted.

Surya Ulhas, R., Ravindran, R., Malaviya, A., Priyadarshini, A., Tiwari, B. K., & Rajauria, G. (2023). A review of alternative proteins for vegan diets: Sources, physico-chemical properties, nutritional equivalency, and consumer acceptance. Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.), 173(Pt 2), 113479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113479

Abstract:

Chronic diseases caused by poor health choices have been identified as a significant contributor to mortality. The poor dietary intake of Malaysians including high consumption of meat and other animal-based products may contribute to development of non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. The amount of meat eaten by Malaysians per person has increased to more than 55 kg a year in 2019, and obviously, a transition towards plant-based diets is urgently needed. Nevertheless, product knowledge and determinants of consumer purchase intention of plant-based meat need to be explored further for Malaysians to effectively adopt a healthy diet.

Mohd Azman, N. M., Muhammad, R., Ramli, N., & Abu Bakar, S. K. (2023). A review of product knowledge and determinants of consumer purchase intention on plant-based meat products In Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 8(SI15), 157–163. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v8iSI15.5106

Abstract:

In vitro meat production presents a potential viable alternative for meat consumption, which could provide the consumer with a product indistinguishable from the original, with very similar nutritional and culinary values. Indeed, the alternative products currently accessible often lack comparable nutritional value or culinary attributes to their animal-derived counterparts. This creates challenges for their global acceptance, particularly in countries where meat consumption holds cultural significance. However, while cultured meat research has been progressing rapidly in recent years, some significant obstacles still need to be overcome before its possible commercialization. Hence, this review summarizes the most current knowledge regarding the history of cultured meat, the currently used cell sources and methods used for the purpose of in vitro meat production, with particular focus on the role of bioreactors, scaffolds and microcarriers in overcoming the current obstacles. The authors put the potential microcarrier and scaffold-based solutions in a context, discussing the ways in which they can impact the way forward for the technology, including the use of considering the potential practical and societal barriers to implementing it as a viable food source worldwide.

Kulus, M., Jankowski, M., Kranc, W., Golkar Narenji, A., Farzaneh, M., Dzięgiel, P., Zabel, M., Antosik, P., Bukowska, D., Mozdziak, P., & Kempisty, B. (2023). Bioreactors, scaffolds and microcarriers and in vitro meat production-current obstacles and potential solutions. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1225233. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1225233

Abstract:

Cultured meat, produced through in vitro cultivation of animal cells, has emerged as a promising solution to environmental, health, and ethical issues resulting from conventional meat production. However, acceptance remains a crucial challenge, significantly influenced by perceptions of unnaturalness. Previous research has demonstrated the limited success of messaging strategies aimed at countering these perceptions. Across two experimental studies, this research breaks new ground by examining these strategies through the lens of mindset theory—i.e., beliefs about the fixedness or malleability of human attributes. In Study 1, we present findings illustrating that a strategy challenging the importance of naturalness is effective at increasing cultured meat acceptance among consumers with a growth mindset. In Study 2, we demonstrate how complementing such messaging strategy with a specific form of creative narrative can make it effective among consumers with a fixed mindset too. Our findings are informative theoretically, extending mindset and narrative theories to the context of cultured meat and, practically, examining the effectiveness of different communication strategies in driving consumer acceptance of the product.

Arango, L., Septianto, F., & Pontes, N. (2023). Challenging cultured meat naturalness perceptions: The role of consumers’ mindset. Appetite, 107039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107039

Abstract:

The cultured meat industry is continuously evolving due to the collective efforts of cultured meat companies and academics worldwide. Though still technologically limited, recent reports of regulatory approvals for cultured meat companies have initiated the standards-based approach towards cultured meat production. Incidents of deception in the meat industry call for fool-proof authentication methods to ensure consumer safety, product quality, and traceability. The cultured meat industry is not exempt from the threats of food fraud. Meat authentication techniques based on DNA, protein, and metabolite fingerprints of animal meat species needs to be evaluated for their applicability to cultured meat. Technique-based categorization of cultured meat products could ease the identification of appropriate authentication methods. The combination of methods with high sensitivity and specificity is key to increasing the accuracy and precision of meat authentication. The identification of markers (both physical and biochemical) to differentiate conventional meat from cultured meat needs to be established to ensure overall product traceability. The current review briefly discusses some areas in the cultured meat industry that are vulnerable to food fraud. Specifically, it targets the current meat and meat product authentication tests to emphasize the need for ensuring the traceability of cultured meat.

Mariano, E. Jr., Lee, D. Y., Yun, S. H., Lee, J., Lee, S. Y., & Hur, S. J. (2023). Checkmeat: A review on the applicability of conventional meat authentication techniques to cultured meat. Food Science of Animal Resources. https://doi.org/10.5851/kosfa.2023.e48

Abstract:

The high population growth rate, massive animal food consumption, fast economic progress, and limited food resources could lead to a food crisis in the future. There is a huge requirement for dietary proteins including cultured meat is being progressed to fulfill the need for meat-derived proteins in the diet. However, production of cultured meat requires monitoring numerous bioprocess parameters. This review presents a comprehensive overview of various widely adopted techniques (optical, spectroscopic, electrochemical, capacitive, FETs, resistive, microscopy, and ultrasound) for monitoring physical, chemical, and biological parameters that can improve the bioprocess control in cultured meat. The methods, operating principle, merits/demerits, and the main open challenges are reviewed with the aim to support the readers in advancing knowledge on novel sensing systems for cultured meat applications.

Pawar, D., Lo Presti, D., Silvestri, S., Schena, E., & Massaroni, C. (2023). Current and future technologies for monitoring cultured meat: A review. Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.), 173(Pt 2), 113464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113464

Highlights:

• PBEs have a significantly smaller environmental footprint than MPCs.

• MPCs and supermarkets act ambiguously, perpetuating the traditional food system's status quo.

• We provide insights on how different stakeholders can promote sustainable food systems.

Glufke Reis, G., Villar, E. G., Ryynänen, T., & Picanço Rodrigues, V. (2023). David vs Goliath: The challenges for plant-based meat companies competing with animal-based meat producers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 138705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138705

Abstract:

This paper comprises a qualitative (Study 1) and a quantitative phase (Study 2). Study 1 aimed to find out what frames and nomenclature would appeal most to meat eaters – including consumers who have eaten cultivated chicken – in Singapore. It also aimed to discover whether perceptions of cultivated meat's naturalness varied across different age groups. Study 2 assessed which message frame and nomenclature were most effective in fostering consumer acceptance of cultivated meat. In addition, it investigated if age was related to the perception of cultivated meat's naturalness and acceptance, and whether aversion to tampering with nature was negatively related to perceived benefits and willingness to consume cultivated meat. First, our analysis showed that no single frame was most effective in fostering acceptance – the exceptions were the “animal welfare/reduces animal slaughter” and “reduce carbon emissions and global warming” frames, which were found to increase acceptance among Buddhists. Second, there was no consistent relationship between age, perceived naturalness, and the acceptance of cultivated meat. Third, “cultivated meat” was the most preferred term and the one that was most significantly related to positive attitudes toward cultivated meat. Last, there was an unexpected positive relationship between aversion to tampering with nature and perceived benefits of cultivated meat, as well as between aversion to tampering with nature and the willingness to consume cultivated meat. The implications for the cultivated meat industry are discussed.

Chong, M., Leung, A. K. -y., Fernandez, T. M., & Ng, S. T. (2023). Effects of framing, nomenclature, and aversion to tampering with nature on consumer acceptance of cultivated meat in Singapore. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 91, 102140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102140

Abstract:

With the rapid advancement of cell-cultured meat processing technologies and regulations, commercialization of cell-cultured meat to market shelves requires the implementation of labeling that informs and protects consumers while ensuring economic competitiveness. In November 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its first pre-market consultation of cell-cultured meat and did not question the safety of these products for human consumption. As of June 2023, commercialization of cell-cultured meat products has become a reality in the United States. To derive potential label terms and gain insight into how different stakeholders refer to these novel products, we analyzed 1,151 comments submitted to the 2021 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (USDA-FSIS) call on the labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry. Our first aim was to systematically assess the nature of comments with regards to their length, cited references, and supplemental materials. In addition, we aimed to identify the most used terms to refer to these products through text analysis. We also asked how these analyses would vary by affiliation category and economic interest. Using the listed organizations for each comment, we first determined financial ties: 77 (7%) comments came from those with an economic interest, 12 (1%) of the comments did not have an identifiable economic interest, while for the remaining 1,062 (92%) comments economic interest could not be determined. We then grouped comments into affiliation categories. Cell-cultured meat companies and animal welfare non-profits had the highest median word count, whereas comments from the unknown affiliation category had the lowest. We found across all comments the predominantly mentioned potential label terms, in descending order, to be cultured meat, lab-grown meat, cultivated meat, cell-cultured meat, clean meat, and cell-based meat. While all label terms were discussed throughout overall submissions, percentages of comments mentioning each term differed between affiliation categories. Our findings suggest differences in how affiliation categories are discussing cell-cultured meat products for the US market. As a next step, the perception and acceptance of these terms must be evaluated to identify the optimal label term regarding the information and protection provided to consumers while ensuring economic competitiveness.

Failla, M., Hopfer, H., & Wee, J. (2023). Evaluation of public submissions to the USDA for labeling of cell-cultured meat in the United States. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1197111. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1197111

Abstract:

Plant-based animal product alternatives are increasingly promoted to achieve more sustainable diets. Here, we use a global economic land use model to assess the food system-wide impacts of a global dietary shift towards these alternatives. We find a substantial reduction in the global environmental impacts by 2050 if globally 50% of the main animal products (pork, chicken, beef and milk) are substituted—net reduction of forest and natural land is almost fully halted and agriculture and land use GHG emissions decline by 31% in 2050 compared to 2020. If spared agricultural land within forest ecosystems is restored to forest, climate benefits could double, reaching 92% of the previously estimated land sector mitigation potential. Furthermore, the restored area could contribute to 13-25% of the estimated global land restoration needs under target 2 from the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030, and future declines in ecosystem integrity by 2050 would be more than halved. The distribution of these impacts varies across regions—the main impacts on agricultural input use are in China and on environmental outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. While beef replacement provides the largest impacts, substituting multiple products is synergistic.

Kozicka, M., Havlík, P., Valin, H., Wollenberg, E., Deppermann, A., Leclère, D., Lauri, P., Moses, R., Boere, E., Frank, S., Davis, C., Park, E., & Gurwick, N. (2023). Feeding climate and biodiversity goals with novel plant-based meat and milk alternatives. Nature Communications, 14(1), 5316. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40899-2

Abstract:

Synthetic meat made from animal cells will transform how we eat. It will reduce suffering by eliminating the need to raise and slaughter animals. But it will also have big public health benefits if it becomes widely consumed. In this paper, we discuss how “clean meat” can reduce the risks associated with intensive animal farming, including antibiotic resistance, environmental pollution, and zoonotic viral diseases like influenza and coronavirus. Since the most common objection to clean meat is that some people find it “disgusting” or “unnatural,” we explore the psychology of disgust to find possible counter-measures. We argue that the public health benefits of clean meat give us strong moral reasons to promote its development and consumption in a way that the public is likely to support. We end by depicting the change from farmed animals to clean meat as a collective action problem and suggest that social norms rather than coercive laws should be employed to solve the problem.

Anomaly, J., Browning, H., Fleischman, D., & Veit, W. (2023). Flesh without blood: The public health benefits of lab-grown meat. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-023-10254-7

Abstract:

n/a

Rein, A. (2023). Mapping trends and tensions in the marketing of plant-based meats. Include - Research Centre for Socially Inclusive Energy Transitions, University of Oslo. https://www.sum.uio.no/include/publikasjoner-media/sommerstudier/2023/mapping-trends-and-tensions-in-the-marketing-of-plant-based-meats-angelique-rein.pdf

Abstract:

This paper reviews the nutritional properties and consumer perceptions of microalgae foods through various recent studies on alternative protein sources. Food choices, including meat consumption, are a common concern for humanity. Thus, we focused on whether microalgae foods have a sufficient value as a protein source and what nutritional benefits they have. Based on existing papers, we conducted a systematic review using Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus to comprehensively investigate and summarize the nutritional characteristics of microalgae, sustainable diets, and awareness of microalgae as an alternative protein source. Research has shown that microalgae have been consumed by humans as a protein source since ancient times, and contain enough protein to be used as an alternative protein source. They also have many other nutritional benefits, such as vitamins. We have found that consumers are increasingly interested in alternative protein sources, and the more they learn about microalgae, the more accepting they become. These results may suggest a need for further research to improve microalgae as an alternative protein source in the long run and develop them into a variety of foods.

Son, E., & Kwon, K. H. (2023). Microalgae as alternative proteins for the sustainable food industry: A review. Theory and Practice of Meat Processing, 8(3), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.21323/2414-438X-2023-8-3-212-219

Abstract:

Industrial animal agriculture is a significant driver of climate change, habitat loss, and the ongoing extinction crisis, all of which will continue to accelerate as global demand for animal products grows. Plant-based alternatives to animal products, which have existed for over a thousand years, offer a potential solution to this problem, as the intersection of recent technological innovation and shifting capital investment trends have ushered in a new era of alternative proteins that are redefining food categories like meat, eggs, and milk. To better understand these evolving food forms, their attendant technologies, and the opportunities they afford for ameliorating the impacts of industrial animal farming, this article provides a genealogy of plant-based alternative proteins, with a particular focus on the current era and the role that design principles like biomimicry and skeuomorphism play in reproducing the organoleptic properties (the sensorial, experiential aspects) of animal products. Comparing the alternative protein market to other markets in which more sustainable foods and energy have failed to displace their environmentally destructive counterparts, it concludes by considering if whether creating novel new protein forms, rather than imitating conventional animal products, may afford a more promising path toward transformation of the food system.

Abrell, E. L. (2023). Reinventing the meal: A genealogy of plant-based alternative proteins. Agriculture and Human Values. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-023-10496-6

Abstract:

Plant-based milk products are ultra-processed food products that enjoy a positive reputation as being safe, healthy, ethical, and sustainable. The present study is focused on these products and addresses the product and brand managers of US food retailers. A consumer survey explores the factors explaining US consumers’ preferences for and commitment to plant-based milk and other plant-based milk products. Environmental concerns, food safety, health, and sustainability concerns are identified as relevant predictors for both consumer behaviors. In addition, animal welfare concerns are relevant, but only for product commitment.

Rombach, M., Dean, D. L., & Gan, C. (2023). “Soy boy vs. holy cow”: Understanding the key factors determining U.S. consumers’ preferences and commitment to plant-based milk alternatives. Sustainability, 15(18), 13715. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813715   

Abstract:

The study’s goal is to examine the downstream relations of fan awareness of a favorite sport team’s pro-environmental food initiatives, considering fans with different degrees of team identification. Building upon the Awareness-to-Action Continuum, the authors propose two pathways that may help explain reported plant-based food consumption among fans (i.e. eating vegetables, eating vegan food, and avoiding meat), particularly at high (vs. low) degrees of team identification: team value internalization and fan-team personality match. Study 1 surveyed 799 fans of 12 different sport teams from various countries, which had implemented pro-environmental food initiatives in the past. Study 2 used a survey-experimental design to manipulate identification with one selected team from the U.S. (n = 356 fans) and assessed the downstream relations of fan awareness of the team’s pro-environmental food initiatives. The authors control for attitude and subjective norm in their analyses and show that the levels of team identification associate with the relation between fan awareness and reported consumption of plant-based foods via fan-team personality match but not via value internalization. Ironically, the perception of the team’s personality as superior to their own personality among low-identification fans is negatively related to the adoption of a plant-based diet despite high awareness levels.

Pape, L., Koenigstorfer, J., & Casper, J. (2023). Sport teams’ promotion of plant-based food consumption among fans. Sport Management Review, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2023.2259146

Abstract:

Growing worldwide food demand with its environmental impacts requires a reshaping of food consumption. This study aims to evaluate the degree of Italian consumers’ awareness of sustainability and whether protein alternatives to meat could be accepted. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a group of 815 respondents, representative of the Italian adult population for geography, gender, and age, using multivariate analysis together with cluster analysis. Lack of awareness of the consequences of food choices on the environment was found in 45% of respondents, and 51% reduced their consumption of meat. Typical foods of the Mediterranean diet (84% legumes 82% eggs, and 77% fish) were selected as the preferred sources of protein to replace meat, while insects and insect-based products were less accepted (67%). The importance of meat is the latent factor that explains more than 50% of the common variance observed in the factor analysis. The cluster analysis confirmed the importance of meat for Italian consumers, emphasizing other aspects of the sustainability of food choices. Cluster 1 (25.6%) considered meat very important. Two out of five clusters (clusters 2 and 3, 38%) considered meat replaceable in the diet, and cluster 4 (31.3%) included meat consumers that were willing to be sustainable. Cluster 5 identifies the “unsustainable consumers” (5.7%). In conclusion, besides the perceived importance of meat, there is room for recommendations for its reduction by proposing alternative foods already present in the Mediterranean diet.

Aureli, V., Nardi, A., Palmieri, N., Peluso, D., Di Veroli, J. N., Scognamiglio, U., & Rossi, L. (2023). Sustainability perception of Italian consumers: Is it possible to replace meat, and what is the best alternative? Nutrients, 15(18), 3861. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183861

Abstract:

High-moisture extrusion (HME) is the established technology for processing plant proteins and manufacturing whole-cut plant-based meat. The science of extrusion has been continually evolving by imbibing numerous innovations related to process control and end-product quality. The primary motivation for the advancements in HME technology is to create diverse taste and texture profiles desired by the consumer. Hence, it is imperative for plant-based food scientists to keep themselves updated with the latest developments in HME technology.

The inherent advantages in terms of crop biodiversity and the ability to operate manufacturing units at low costs can position India as an export hub for producing textured vegetable proteins. However, despite the resourcefulness of HME technology and extruders for the plant-based food sector, extrusion capacity and capability in India are yet to reach a significant number. The need of the hour is to foster technological innovations and funding to promote academic research on extrusion technology. It is equally important to improve the manufacturing capacity for extrusion. A participatory approach between stakeholders across academia, industry, and government scientific bodies is central to enhancing the extrusion manufacturing capacity that can strengthen the plant-based smart protein sector.

Tentu, R. D., Dabir, S., & Ishwarya, P. (n.d.). Technological review of high-moisture extrusion for creating whole-cut plant-based meat. GFI India. https://gfi-india.org/technological-review-of-high-moisture-extrusion-for-creating-whole-cut-plant-based-meat/  

Abstract:

Conventional dairy farming contributes significantly to environmental issues including greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, land usage, and animal welfare concerns. At the same time, the rising global population is driving up demand for dairy products. Cell-based dairy, also known as lab-grown or cultured dairy, offers a promising solution by producing milk directly from cell cultures without the need for livestock. This technology has the potential to greatly reduce the environmental footprint of dairy production while meeting increasing dairy demands. This paper examines the possible benefits and current barriers to cell-based dairy becoming a widespread, viable, and sustainable alternative to conventional dairy farming. The potential benefits include up to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 90% less water usage, 99% less land usage, and the avoidance of animal suffering inherent in industrial dairy farming. However, significant obstacles remain in scaling up production to make lab-grown dairy price competitive with conventional dairy and gaining regulatory approval and consumer acceptance of a novel food technology. Life cycle assessment models demonstrate the reduced environmental impacts of cell-based dairy across metrics such as water, land, and emissions. Techno-economic analyses reveal challenges in achieving cost parity, estimating cell-cultured milk would currently cost 2-3 times more per gallon to produce. Consumer surveys show general willingness to try cell-based dairy products, but hesitation about regular substitution for conventional dairy. Additional R&D focused on bioprocessing efficiencies, policy support, and consumer education is still needed to fully realize the promise of lab-grown milk. If these challenges can be overcome, cell-based dairy could play a critical role in transitioning the dairy sector to a more sustainable system capable of providing nutritional, affordable dairy products to a growing global population.

George, Dr. A. S. (2023a). The promises and challenges of cell-based dairy: Assessing the viability of lab-grown milk as a sustainable alternative. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8372867  

Abstract:

Environmental sustainability stands at the forefront of global issues, with many consumers changing their habits to reduce their carbon footprint. A prime example is the cutback in meat consumption and increased adoption of a plant-based diet by consumers across the globe. This research examines this phenomenon and considers the impact of the carbon footprint label in shifting consumers’ perceptions of environmental sustainability of plant-based and animal-based food products; identifying implications for purchase intent. Additionally, the research explores how the effect varies with different levels of consumer perceived believability. A study of 605 online Proflific participants from the US provided data for analysis using PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results indicate that as perceived believability increases, a carbon footprint label has an increasingly positive effect on perceived environmental sustainability for animal-based products but not for products derived from plant protein. We add to current theory and practice by examining emerging nuances in plant-based food consumption, identifying a halo effect for plant-based foods that impact consumer perceptions derived from package labels.

Ang, M. Y. A., Pontes, N., & France, C. (2024). Unsustainable burgers? Deploying carbon footprint labels to enhance sustainability perceptions of animal-based food products. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 76, 103567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103567

Abstract:

Increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, farmed animal welfare and competition for traditional protein sources, are driving considerable development of alternative pet foods. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources including terrestrial plants, insects, yeast, fungi and potentially seaweed. To study health outcomes in cats fed vegan diets compared to those fed meat, we surveyed 1,418 cat guardians, asking about one cat living with them, for at least one year. Among 1,380 respondents involved in cat diet decision-making, health and nutrition was the factor considered most important. 1,369 respondents provided information relating to a single cat fed a meat-based (1,242–91%) or vegan (127–9%) diet for at least a year. We examined seven general indicators of illness. After controlling for age, sex, neutering status and primary location via regression models, the following risk reductions were associated with a vegan diet for average cats: increased veterinary visits– 7.3% reduction, medication use– 14.9% reduction, progression onto therapeutic diet– 54.7% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of being unwell– 3.6% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of more severe illness– 7.6% reduction, guardian opinion of more severe illness– 22.8% reduction. Additionally, the number of health disorders per unwell cat decreased by 15.5%. No reductions were statistically significant. We also examined the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders, using reported veterinary assessments. Forty two percent of cats fed meat, and 37% of those fed vegan diets suffered from at least one disorder. Of these 22 disorders, 15 were most common in cats fed meat, and seven in cats fed vegan diets. Only one difference was statistically significant. Considering these results overall, cats fed vegan diets tended to be healthier than cats fed meat-based diets. This trend was clear and consistent. These results largely concur with previous, similar studies.

Knight, A., Bauer, A., & Brown, H. (2023). Vegan versus meat-based cat food: Guardian-reported health outcomes in 1,369 cats, after controlling for feline demographic factors. Plos One, 18(9), e0284132. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284132

Abstract:

We are living in a new human-dominated geological epoch, the Anthropocene. Human activity is the dominant cause of most contemporary environment change. At the same time, digital transformation is changing our societies. The intersection of both processes compels us to harness the potential of new technological systems to transform how humanity manages its environmental footprint. However, our interaction with the environment is not the only interaction we have to change. New technologies can automatically monitor animal welfare. These management processes will increase stakeholder confidence and therefore the reputation of food companies. Since corporate governance is key for corporate sustainability, new monitoring processes should begin to be included in the animal welfare questionnaires. This research highlights the disruptive potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies applied on farms. Like the sustainability questionnaires, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) have shortcomings. However, animal welfare indices are very useful tools to measure the performance of companies and can be easily improved by following the recommendations of this research. The importance of a formalised system of responsibilities and the advances offered by audio-visual and smart technologies, that provide real-time data, will be a key dimension for the farm of the future and therefore should be part of the BBFAW questionnaires.

Fernández-Mateo, J., & Franco Barrera, A. J. (2020). Animal welfare for corporate sustainability: The business benchmark on farm animal welfare. Journal of Sustainability Research, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20200030 

Abstract:

Animal welfare is one of the key agricultural policy goals and is considered extremely important by consumers. With the increasing urgency for a sustainable and healthy dietary shift, it could be one of the key motivators for behaviour change. Therefore, we investigate how consumers perceive the importance of animal welfare not only as an agricultural policy goal but also in comparison to conflicting goals, such as domestic food production, farmers’ income, and consumer prices. We investigate how the weighing of animal welfare as an agricultural policy goal is related to individual behaviour (i.e. meat consumption), values and attitudes, such as meat commitment, the perceptions of farmers and the Ecological Welfare scale (which includes animal welfare and environment protection). Thus, we conducted an online survey in October 2022, recruiting a sample of 1542 participants (51.5% women) in equal parts from the German-, French-, and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland. Participants were asked to evaluate the importance of increased animal welfare in three situations with the following conflicting policy goals: (1) increasing domestic food production, (2) reducing consumer food prices, and (3) increasing farm incomes. Regression analysis revealed that the influential predictors in all three models were similar. Being a woman, politically left leaning, and less committed to meat eating, having a more negative perception of farmers, and assigning more importance to ethical food consumption increased the probability of putting more weight on animal welfare in all three goal conflicts described above. The finding that participants who were more committed to meat eating tended to assign less importance to animal welfare when weighing the three conflicting agricultural policy goals is well-aligned with the current literature. Implications for agricultural policy are discussed.

Ammann, J., Mack, G., Irek, J., Finger, R., & El Benni, N. (2023). Consumers’ meat commitment and the importance of animal welfare as agricultural policy goal. Food Quality and Preference, 112, 105010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.105010

Abstract:

Our latest study examines lesser known mechanics of animal agriculture industries, with the hope of highlighting leverage points that are thus far underused by advocates.

Wulderk, Z. (2023). Domination And exploitation: Understanding industry costs for chicken, egg, and fish products in the United States, Brazil, And China. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/industry-costs/

Abstract:

The majority of poultry meat used to be sourced from intensively housed birds. However, consumer preference has since demanded poultry producers develop more sustainable farming systems. Although free-range farming is considered beneficial for animal welfare, it is not as easy to standardize as an intensive system, which makes the choice of bird genotype appear crucial for alternative systems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of conventional and free-range rearing systems on the immune status, stress parameters, intestinal morphology and mortality in commercial hybrids (Ross 308) and local poultry strains, Bionda Piemontese (BP), Robusta Maculata (RM), BP x Sasso (BPxS), and RM x Sasso (RMxS). RNA was extracted from the jejunum and spleen to assess the mRNA expression of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). The heterophil:lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and intestinal histomorphometric evaluation were also calculated. We found that compared to the conventional system, the rearing system significantly affected the jejunum expression of IL-10, iNOS, IL-2, and IL-6, where these genes were upregulated in free-range system. A significant interaction between the rearing system and the genotype was also shown. More specifically, local breeds showed a significantly higher expression (P < 0.001) of IL-6 in the free-range system compared to the same genotypes in the conventional system. Moreover, IL-6 is constantly upregulated in local breeds within the free-range system compared to Ross hybrids. We also found significantly increased H/L and mortality rates in the latter, compared to the local breeds in the free-range reared system. The jejunum morphology also demonstrated a significantly higher villus height in BP and BPxS compared to the Ross hybrids. Overall, the results of our study confirm that the intense selection for growth in broiler chickens may have reduced their ability to react to the environmental stimuli related to free-range systems, resulting in a lower adaptability to a free-range environment, thus making them inappropriate for any farming system other than the conventional one. On the contrary, local chicken breeds are able to adapt and survive in the free-range system of rearing, and represent a genetic resource especially when adaptability to free-range conditions is required.

Stefanetti, V., Mancinelli, A. C., Pascucci, L., Menchetti, L., Castellini, C., Mugnai, C., Fiorilla, E., Miniscalco, B., Chiattelli, D., Franciosini, M. P., & Proietti, P. C. (2023). Effect of rearing systems on immune status, stress parameters, intestinal morphology, and mortality in conventional and local chicken breeds. Poultry Science, 102(12), 103110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.103110 

Abstract:

Current production standards and communication campaigns about animal welfare in relation to beef strongly emphasise the “humane” rearing of cattle. Aspects such as transport and slaughtering conditions are often overlooked in both production standards and communications with consumers. Long transport routes and conventional slaughtering can cause significant stress to animals and have negative impacts on their welfare and on meat quality. On-farm slaughter can address these criticisms. Communicating the value of low-stress slaughtering conditions like on-farm slaughtering may offer significant sales potential for a premium market segment. In this study, we explore consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for beef that is slaughtered on-farm rather than in conventional abattoirs. We conducted an online survey (n = 400) in 2022, with a sample that is representative of the German population with respect to gender, age, income and education. Our survey included a discrete choice experiment for the purchase of minced beef, incorporating product attributes that influence purchase decisions. These included: price, information on the social, economic and environmental benefits of regional production, different production standards (conventional/organic) and information on on-farm slaughtering. Our findings indicate that consumers derive the highest utility from a low price, followed by information about on-farm slaughtering. Participants indicated a preference for information on high animal welfare over high beef quality. We conclude that highlighting on-farm slaughtering could be a significant benefit in marketing premium beef products.

Lauterbach, J., Bruns, A. J., & Häring, A. M. (2023). Exploring consumer preference towards the on-farm slaughtering of beef in Germany: A discrete choice experiment. Foods, 12(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183473

Abstract:

Recently, interest in animal welfare has steadily increased, driven by a growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. This trend aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. This underscores the importance of comprehending consumer attitudes towards products that are respectful to animal welfare. This research aims to employ the Value-Attitude-Behavior (VAB) model as a theoretical basis to explore the behavioral intentions of Taiwanese consumers to buy cage-free eggs. To provide comprehensive insights into consumer behavior in this domain, the study examines key variables such as ‘human–nature connectedness’, ‘trust in labels’, and ‘attitude towards animal welfare’. By addressing an existing research gap in the literature and exploring consumer behavior in relation to animal welfare-friendly products, the research contributes to an area that has received limited attention. We gathered a total of 341 valid questionnaires for this research. Employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) along with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), we investigated the causal connections between variables. The study presents three key observations: First, consumers who value sustainability and ethics tend to maintain a positive perspective on free-range eggs. Second, a favorable stance towards cage-free eggs directly correlates with positive future behaviors. Lastly, label trustworthiness and a supportive view towards animal welfare heavily affect behavioral intentions in consumers. Given these insights and the growing significance of animal welfare in consumer choices, we recommend that participants in the food and livestock sector earnestly advocate for and back practices that prioritize animal well-being.

Chang, M.-Y., Chao, C.-T., & Chen, H.-S. (2023). Exploring the impact of human-animal connections and trust in labeling consumers’ intentions to buy cage-free eggs: Findings from Taiwan. Foods, 12(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12173310

Abstract:

Each month, our Faunalytics Index provides a round-up of data, statistics, and facts gleaned from the most recent research we’ve covered in our library. Our aim is to give you a quick overview of some of the most eye-catching and informative bits of data that could help you be more effective in your advocacy for animals.

Orzechowski, K. (2023, September 6). Faunalytics Index – September 2023. https://faunalytics.org/faunalytics-index-september-2023

Abstract:

The challenges facing the health sector and the agri-food industry have become increasingly complex over the years. Animal welfare, drug consumption, the use of the slaughterhouse as an epidemiological observatory and biosecurity, as well as the health risks associated with it, are increasingly interconnected, making an integrated approach necessary. Hence the European Commission developed regulations to ensure a certain standard for animal welfare in livestock husbandry, which led the Animal Health and Veterinary Drugs Directorate of the Italian Ministry of Health to design an integrated system called Classyfarm, aimed at categorising farming according to risk. The aim of our study was to consider the protocol of the Classyfarm system for evaluating the present situation in South Tyrolean dairy farming (1) and discuss the practical implementation of this new system in small-scale mountain dairy farming (2) which largely differs from large dairy enterprises in the lowlands. The results provide important insights about farm structure and management. However, in terms of animal welfare the questionnaire of Classyfarm is not able to properly differentiate and therefore results need to be considered with caution. Similarly, the section about biosafety is hardly applicable for small-scale mountain farms due to limited herd size and building capacity. Therefore, authors underline the necessity of developing a further differentiated questionnaire for the Classyfarm system, which considers the peculiarities of small-scale mountain dairy farming and allow proper conclusions regarding sanitary risk for public health unless the long-term aim is that such structure will stop producing which will have significant effects on many other sectors in the region, e.g. tourism.

Holighaus, L., Zanon, T., Kemper, N., & Gauly, M. (2023). First evaluation of the practicability of the CLASSYFARM welfare assessment protocol in Italian small-scale mountain dairy farms: A case study. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 22(1), 995–1007. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2259220

Abstract:

Protecting animal welfare during preslaughter handling and slaughter is an important ethical concern with growing importance to consumers. However, animal welfare violations in abattoirs remain a serious problem, and the enforcement of relevant laws and regulations is often inadequate. This study investigated and compiled the measures and penalties which official veterinarians (OVs) consider appropriate for different animal welfare violations at German abattoirs, including ranges for fines. Additionally, information regarding which measures were taken in past cases, including past procedural outcomes (e.g., judicial decisions and regulatory animal welfare orders in Germany), were gathered and summarised. The aim is to provide insights into the status quo, so that flaws in law enforcement (e.g., imposing low penalties or not filing a criminal complaint when necessary) can be identified in a future study. To achieve this, the following five steps were utilised: acquiring relevant judicial decisions; conducting an anonymous online survey among German OVs; conducting semi-structured interviews with OVs; conducting a virtual colloquium with OVs; and consulting lawyers. Measures and penalties for violations of 40 relevant and frequent different provisions of the German Ordinance on the Protection of Animals in connection with Slaughter or Killing (TierSchlV), in conjunction with the Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 and the German Animal Welfare Act, were gathered. The findings were compiled into a list of measures and penalties, which contains a separate table for all 40 violations, entailing an overview of the following information: citation(s) of legal/regulatory requirements to protect animals at the time of killing/slaughter; citation(s) of relevant regulatory and criminal penalties; special measures/penalties considered appropriate for the first and repeated offence by OVs; and information on penalties listed in judicial decisions of past similar cases. This initiative is a step towards achieving a reduction of animal welfare violations at German abattoirs. 

Schneidewind, S. J., Meemken, D., & Langforth, S. (2023). Measures and penalties for animal welfare violations at German abattoirs: A compilation of current recommendations and practices. Animals : An Open Access Journal from MDPI, 13(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182916 

Abstract:

Fur farming involves the captive-breeding, rearing, and killing of between 85 -100 million animals annually for their pelts. The purpose of this report is to summarise key areas of significance and concern regarding fur farming, and discuss these matters and their one-health considerations. We conducted primary literature searches using Google Scholar and PubMed that focused on issues of animal welfare, zoonoses and public health, and environmental impacts of fur farming, and examined 280 reports. We identified that at least 15 species are farmed for fur across at least 19 countries. We found 16 categories of animal welfare concern (e.g., deprivation, stress, abnormal behaviours, insanitary conditions, forced obesity, and high morbidity and mortality), 18 reported endemic pathogens and diseases with confirmed or potential zoonotic and cross-species implications (e.g., bacterial n = 6, viral n = 5, and parasitic n = 7), and four main categories of environmental concern (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, invasive alien species, toxic chemicals, and eutrophication) associated with fur farming. Despite numerous efforts to systematically monitor and control animal welfare at fur farms, practices continue to fail to meet normal scientific principles and models used in other animal welfare situations. In our view, limited available data does not currently indicate that fur farms are major sources of zoonotic epidemics and pandemics. The environmental problems caused by fur farming are significant, and relate mainly to invasive species, toxic chemical release and eutrophication of water bodies. We offer some recommendations for monitoring and controlling particular fur farming practices, in line with many governments and other investigators we conclude that inherent problems are essentially unresolvable and advocate complete prohibitions on the sector.

Warwick, C., Pilny, A., Steedman, C., & Grant, R. (2023). One health implications of fur farming. Frontiers in Animal Science. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1249901/abstract 

Abstract:

Originating in China, Silk has been used by humans for thousands of years. Although it is marketed as a luxury and natural material, the textile is derived from the cocoons of silkworms, causing ethical concerns about animal welfare. Using the UK government's framework for analyzing crustacean sentience, there is evidence that insects have the capacity for pain in two extensively researched orders, Blattodea and Diptera. Silkworms are in the order Lepidoptera, which has had significantly less research. However, drawing from the evidence on Blattodea and Diptera, we think there is a reasonable chance (8%) that silkworm juveniles feel pain.

The scale of silkworms being farmed is extremely large. Globally, at least 420 billion to 1 trillion silkworms are killed annually to produce silk; most of them are boiled alive at the pupal stage. Diseases and pests may cause the most suffering, leading to 61 billion to 170 billion additional silkworm deaths on farms each year. Cannibalistic behavior, potentially due to overcrowding, food shortages, and dehydration, has also been observed. Male moths are also subjected to repetitive mating cycles in semi-frozen conditions until they lose strength. Given the track record of animal agriculture industries' misaligned incentives with animal welfare, we think silkworms likely experience a net-negative quality of life on farms. With so many silkworms being farmed, silkworm welfare represents a potentially very important issue for animal welfare. Charities that exist exclusively to help silkworms are non-existent, making it a highly neglected problem. There are two main approaches we considered for reducing silkworm suffering: 1) a charity that runs campaigns to reduce the demand for silk and pressure fashion retailers to ban the sale of silk; 2) a silkworm welfare charity that works directly with silk farms to improve silkworm welfare and hygiene (similar to Shrimp Welfare Project but for silkworms). In our geographic assessment, we identified the USA as a priority country to target for silk campaigns and India as a country to target for a direct welfare charity. Though the cost-effectiveness estimates are highly speculative, they suggest a potential for high cost-effectiveness, averting around 20 welfare points WP per dollar spent for silk campaigns and around 30 WP per dollar spent for a silkworm welfare charity. Despite the problem being so neglected, there are strong concerns surrounding the tractability of a silkworm charity; for example, it is uncertain if Western consumers, CE Research Report: Silkworm Welfare Page 4 fashion retailers, and silkworm farmers can be persuaded to care about insect well-being. Ultimately, this idea depends on the uncertainty around the moral weight given to insects. If evidence for insect and silkworm sentience is convincing to the reader; then the scale and neglectedness of the problems suggest that it is highly worthwhile and cost-effective to address silkworm welfare issues. However, even in that case, farming insects for food and feed is a more pressing issue, expected to grow much more rapidly than silk production (25% vs. 8% growth per year). We decided against recommending a charity working on silk campaigns or direct silkworm welfare because we were too uncertain about the tractability and evidence base for insect campaigns and reducing mortality in silkworm farms. However, we believe work in this space likely has significant merit and would be excited to see existing organizations campaigning on silk use or engaging silk farmers on welfare issues.

Che, J. (2023). Silkworm welfare. Charity Entrepreneurship. https://9475dbf4-555e-4808-9886-5f8ee815cc82.usrfiles.com/ugd/9475db_b4b6fb75eede41598f5c4944f3237f8c.pdf 

Abstract:

Originating in China, Silk has been used by humans for thousands of years. Although it is marketed as a luxury and natural material, the textile is derived from the cocoons of silkworms, causing ethical concerns about animal welfare. Using the UK government's framework for analyzing crustacean sentience, there is evidence that insects have the capacity for pain in two extensively researched orders, Blattodea and Diptera. Silkworms are in the order Lepidoptera, which has had significantly less research. However, drawing from the evidence on Blattodea and Diptera, we think there is a reasonable chance (8%) that silkworm juveniles feel pain.

Although farmed animal advocates have achieved some protection for animals through state and local laws, Congress’s constitutional authority to preempt state law and regulate interstate commerce poses a significant threat to those achievements. Additionally, the practical constraints of the United States’ interconnected food system suggest that national, uniform standards are more desirable than a state-by-state, piecemeal approach to animal welfare. Despite the potential benefits of a state-by-state approach and some obstacles faced at the federal level, this Article argues that long-lasting legal protections for farmed animals should ultimately come from Congress, and that animal advocates should concentrate their efforts there. This is especially true pending the Supreme Court’s decision in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, where the Court will rule on the validity of California’s Proposition 12, which bans in-state sales of certain products made from animals who were cruelly confined.

Groh, M. (2023). The confines of federalism on farmed animal welfare. Animal Law Review, 29(2), 167. https://lawcommons.lclark.edu/alr/vol29/iss2/4/ 

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to construct a model by combining the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with conjoint analysis to evaluate baskets of agricultural goods. Each basket of agricultural goods contains various different products, including white rice and leaf vegetables are either organic or non-organic, hens’ eggs and chicken drumsticks obtained from chickens bred with and without due consideration for animal welfare, and soy sauce and jam with or without additives. The evaluation of these various features is innovative and in accordance with the shopping behavior of most consumers who, most of the time, concurrently evaluate these multi-features and multi-products. The price premium for each feature and the willingness to pay, the highest amount that a consumer is willing to pay, for a specific basket of agricultural goods is evaluated by using the multinomial logit model and the linear regression model. The relationship between essential factors in the TPB and the sociodemographic characteristics of consumers is examined. In general, the ranking of the price premium paid for products from the highest to the lowest is soy sauce, jam, chicken drumsticks, white rice, hens’ eggs, and leaf vegetables, respectively. The price premium for natural products with no additives is higher than that for organic and animal welfare-based products. The evaluation of these multi-features of agricultural goods allows us to observe the relative importance of an agricultural product through the price premium, with different combinations of other products. This indicates that the evaluation of the price premium for only a single product or for multiple products with a single feature might be either over-estimated or under-estimated.

Chiou, Y.-S., Wu, P.-I., Liou, J.-L., Huang, T.-K., & Chen, C.-W. (2023). What Is the willingness to pay for a basket of agricultural goods? Multi-features of organic, animal welfare-based and natural products with no additives. Agriculture, 13(9), 1743. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091743

Abstract:

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production sectors in the world and further expansion is expected throughout the 21st century. However, climate change is threatening the development of the sector and action is needed to prepare the industry for the coming challenges. Using downscaled temperature projections based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate projection (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway, SSP2-4.5), we analysed potential future temperatures at a selected Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) farm site in Northern Norway. Results showed that the farming area may experience increased temperatures the next 10–15 years, including more days with temperatures above 17°C. Based on the predicted future conditions, we designed a study with Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) to evaluate effects from high temperature alone and in combination with Fransicella noatunensis infection. Fish were kept at 12°C and 17°C for eight weeks and samples of skin and spleen collected at different timepoints were analysed with transcriptomics, histology, scanning electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that high temperature had a stronger effect on the barrier functions of skin than the infection. Increased temperature induced gene expression changes in skin and spleen, heat shock protein 47 and cold inducible RNA binding protein were identified as potential gene markers for thermal stress. The effect of bacterial challenge was small at 12°C. At high temperature, the development of severe pathology in spleen coincided with a significant decrease of immunoglobulins transcripts, which contrasted with the activation of multiple immune genes. In addition, we used an in vitro model of skin biopsies and scale explants exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to assess the effects of thermal and oxidative stress. High temperature and H2O2 reduced proliferation and migration of keratocytes, and increased expression of stress markers, and compounding effects were observed with combined stressors. Results suggest that the projected increased seawater temperature will pose a significant threat to Norwegian cod farming, affecting various biological processes and making fish more vulnerable to stressors and pathogens. Cod farming needs high attention to temperature changes, and special precautions should be taken if the temperature increases beyond cods’ thermal optimum.

Ytteborg, E., Falconer, L., Krasnov, A., Johansen, L.-H., Timmerhaus, G., Johansson, G. S., Afanasyev, S., Høst, V., Hjøllo, S. S., Hansen, Ø. J., & Lazado, C. C. (2023). Climate change with increasing seawater temperature will challenge the health of farmed Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua L.). Frontiers in Marine Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1232580  

Abstract:

Stress in farmed fish is associated with poor feeding, slow growth, disease, and mortality. Therefore, it is essential to closely monitor the stress levels in fish to optimize farming practices which could then enhance productivity and welfare in aquaculture operations. Cortisol, a stress hormone that can be found in the blood, is a reliable biomarker for evaluating fish stress. As blood sampling is highly invasive, alternative cortisol sampling methods such as fin, mucus, and the surrounding water which contains released cortisol, have been proposed as less invasive or non- invasive sampling methods. However, a comprehensive understanding of their temporal dynamics and associations with plasma cortisol levels is still lacking. In this study, we subjected Lates calcarifer, Asian sea bass within a farm-scale (3,000 L tank, 9,000 L system) high-flow rate (8,000 L/hour) Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) to an acute handling stress challenge specifically involving chasing and air exposure, and quantified cortisol dynamics both within different biological samples including blood, fin, and mucus and in tank water from multiple sampling points. We showed that handling stress induced an expected increase in plasma and mucosal cortisol, peaking at 4 hours and 24-48 hours, respectively, and that plasma and mucus cortisol were moderately correlated, especially during the stress period. Fin cortisol did not show consistent dynamics. Water cortisol similarly rose, but peaked within 40 minutes from the start of the stressor, in a pattern that was dependent on the site of sampling within the RAS system, likely due to RAS circulation dynamics. Our study is the first to examine the impact of stress on cortisol accumulation and release in Asian Sea bass in a farm-scale RAS, thus providing insights that complement existing research on the efficacy of fin, mucus, and water cortisol as stress indicators that could help optimize aquaculture productivity and welfare.

Tan, M. R., Aung, K. M. M., Salleh, N. A. binte M., Tan, J. Y. A., Chua, K. X., Doblado, G. J., Chua, K. L., Tham, V., Lin, J. J., Chaganty, V., Yusoff, D. M., Vij, S., Su, X., Sutarlie, L., & Wee, C. L. (2023). Dynamics of endogenous and water cortisol release in Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer after acute stress in a farm scale recirculating aquaculture system. BioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.20.558587 

Abstract:

Placing shelters in rearing containers is a method of environmental enrichment that can effectively improve the welfare of aquatic animals. However, a set of standard specifications for shelter use is still absent in the artificial culture of Amphioctopus fangsiao. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether shelter type significantly affects the survival, growth performance, behavior, cortisol level, and brain serotonergic system activity of juvenile A. fangsiao. Juveniles (weight 3.72 ± 0.56 g) were reared under different types of shelters for 3 weeks: no shelter (CT), PVC pipe (PP), shell (SH), and PVC corrugated plate (PC). Behavioral and physiological parameters were determined thereafter. In general, octopuses in PP treatment had the highest survival rate (83.3 ± 17.0%). The weight gain (53.40 ± 6.20%) and specific growth rate (2.03 ± 0.19% d−1) of CT octopuses were higher than those of octopuses from other treatments. CT octopuses exhibited the highest levels of aggressive behavior, cortisol, and brain serotonergic system activity, while PC octopuses showed the lowest levels of these stress-related behavioral and physiological indicators. The hepatosomatic index, coefficient of weight variation, and attachment rate did not differ significantly among treatments. Altogether, these results demonstrated for the first time that shelter type had a major impact on octopus survival, growth performance, behavioral phenotype (aggressive behavior), and stress-related physiological processes, and we suggest that using PVC pipes as shelters might be optimal for octopus rearing.

Hu, Y., Zheng, J., Han, F., Fan, L., Liu, Y., Qian, Y., Zhang, Q., & Zheng, X. (2024). Effects of shelter on the welfare of juvenile Amphioctopus fangsiao: Survival, growth, behavior and physiology. Aquaculture, 578, 740040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740040 

Abstract:

Aquaculture routine practices may cause stress induction on the fish and compromise their welfare affecting the production. This experiment aimed to evaluate the potential links between handling during culture with stress responses and growth on Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis). We worked with two fish cohorts in terms of initial body weight and culture stage: Trial 1 included specimens in the fattening stage (226 ± 4.96 g) and Trial 2 animals in the pre-fattening stage (27.20 ± 0.44 g). The tested culture protocol, which lasted 6 and 4 months for Trial 1 and 2, respectively, mainly reduced handling-derived stressors in the experimental tanks via lowering routine samplings to a minimum. This decrease of the handling-derived stress was reflected in both trials with lower concentration of circulating cortisol in blood plasma from the experimental fish when compared to controls. Moreover, the proposed protocol promoted higher growth in the fish cultured in the less disturbing protocol in Trial 2. Higher specific growth rates and mean body weight and length were reported. In order to further explore the potential beneficial effects of our protocol, we studied the musculoskeletal from Trial 2 gene expression of key genes regulating glucocorticoid signaling pathway and apoptosis: glucocorticoid receptors 1 and 2 (gr1, gr2), heat shock protein 90 AA (hsp90aa), and caspase 6 (casp6). In line with the cortisol reduced level in this trial, gr1, hsp90aa, and casp6 genes showed lower expression in the samples coming from the experimental group. The findings of this study provide valuable information to the aquaculture industry for the management of Solea senegalensis stress and welfare.

Valcarce, D. G., Riesco, M. F., Martínez-Vázquez, J. M., Villanueva, J. L. R., & Robles, V. (2023). Impact of different levels of handling on Solea senegalensis culture: Effects on growth and molecular markers of stress. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-023-01239-9 

Abstract:

Animal welfare assessments have struggled to investigate the emotional states of animals while focusing solely on available empirical evidence. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) may provide insights into an animal’s subjective experiences without compromising scientific rigor. Rather than assessing explicit, physical behaviours (i.e., what animals are doing, such as swimming or feeding), QBA describes and quantifies the overall expressive manner in which animals execute those behaviours (i.e., how relaxed or agitated they appear). While QBA has been successfully applied to scientific welfare assessments in a variety of species, its application within aquaculture remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess QBA’s effectiveness in capturing changes in the emotional behaviour of Atlantic salmon following exposure to a stressful challenge. Nine tanks of juvenile Atlantic salmon were video-recorded every morning for 15 min over a 7-day period, in the middle of which a stressful challenge (intrusive sampling) was conducted on the salmon. The resultant 1-min, 63 video clips were then semi-randomised to avoid predictability and treatment bias for QBA scorers. Twelve salmon-industry professionals generated a list of 16 qualitative descriptors (e.g., relaxed, agitated, stressed) after viewing unrelated video-recordings depicting varying expressive characteristics of salmon in different contexts. A different group of 5 observers, with varied experience of salmon farming, subsequently scored the 16 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Principal Components Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation) was used to identify perceived patterns of expressive characteristics across the video-clips, which revealed 4 dimensions explaining 74.5% of the variation between clips. PC1, ranging from ‘relaxed/content/positive active’ to ‘unsettled/stressed/spooked/skittish’ explained the highest percentage of variation (37%). QBA scores for video-clips on PC1, PC2, and PC4 achieved good inter- and intra-observer reliability. Linear Mixed Effects Models, controlled for observer variation in PC1 scores, showed a significant difference between PC1 scores before and after sampling (p = 0.03), with salmon being perceived as more stressed afterwards. PC1 scores also correlated positively with darting behaviours (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). These results are the first to report QBA’s sensitivity to changes in expressive characteristics of salmon following a putatively stressful challenge, demonstrating QBA’s potential as a welfare indicator within aquaculture.

Wiese, T. R., Rey Planellas, S., Betancor, M., Haskell, M., Jarvis, S., Davie, A., Wemelsfelder, F., & Turnbull, J. F. (2023). Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a welfare indicator for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in response to a stressful challenge. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1260090. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1260090 

Abstract:

Introduction Litopenaeus vannamei is one of the most bred crustaceans worldwide. In farms feed is, by far, the main expenditure. Thus, the objective of feed and premix manufacturers is to find affordable but attractive formula. Currently the methods for measuring the attractivity of a feed are poorly precise and reproductible. One option is to conceive a device and a procedure that will be able to track shrimp during a feeding process and evaluate their behaviour in relation with pellet attractivity. Light is an important environmental factor for animals living in water. It has significant effects on behaviour, feed intake and growth of aquatic animals (Giri et al., 2002). Light can also be a source of stress that can bias behavioural experiments. Thus, to determine which colour and intensity of light cause less stress for this species, three experiments were conducted. The first experiment aimed to find the less stressful colour. The second one aimed to find the less stressful light intensity. The last experiment aimed to determine which colours L. vannamei is able to perceive. General protocol For these three experiments, L. vannamei shrimp were purchased from a local Bulgarian farm and brought to the station Halieutica (France) during a 24h journey. Experiment 1 – colour preferences. Protocol Thirty PL20 L. vannamei shrimp were acclimatised for four weeks. After acclimatisation, six waiting tanks of 10 L with five shrimp were prepared. Shrimp were tested in a random order in a closed structure and were enlightened and filmed once with each following colour: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple for 15 min. Following Takahashi (2021), four motion behaviours were recorded to assess stress: swimming, freezing, time spent along the walls and time spent in the centre of the tank. In addition, the number of loops, tail flips, and eye beats were counted, as they are considered as stress markers in shrimp (Bardera et al., 2019; Takahashi, 2021). Median speed was also analysed. We hypothesise that non-stressed shrimp will slowly explore their environment, leading to a low speed. Experiment 1 – colour preferences. Results Median speed and the number of loops and tail flips were significantly lower for red and orange light (p<0.05) suggesting that these colours are less stressful. We decided to choose orange for Experiment 2. Experiment 2 – light intensity preferences. Protocol Thirty PL20 L. vannamei shrimp were acclimatised for twelve weeks. Procedure and tested behaviour were the same as in Experiment 1. For this experiment, shrimp were enlightened and filmed once with every following orange light intensity: 17, 64, 170 or 430 Lux for 15 min. Experiment 2 – light intensity preferences. Results No effect of the light intensity was shown on any stress markers, meaning that orange is not stressful for shrimp, whatever the light intensity. One possible explanation is that shrimp do not perceive this colour. Thus, we studied L. vannamei’s colour vision in a third experiment. Experiment 3 – L. vannamei’s colour vision. Protocol Ten PL20 L. vannamei shrimp were acclimatised for twenty-two weeks. Shrimp were individually tested in an optomotor device. This device consists of a rotating cylinder (6 rpm), which inside walls were covered with a filter made of vertical stripes (6,28 cm) of grey, and one of the following colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white (positive control). We also used a negative control (uniform grey). The shrimp was placed on a still platform in the middle of the cylinder. Each shrimp was tested once for each colour. The device turned 1min clockwise, and 1min counter clockwise, the percentage of time the shrimp spent turning in the same direction and at the same speed as the device was measured, this is called the optomotor response. We considered that the shrimp perceived the colour (and hence discriminated the stripes) when the percentages of rotation in the same direction as the cylinder was at least superior to 50%. Experiment 3 – L. vannamei’s colour vision. Results Shrimp showed an optomotor response to the green, blue, purple striped filters and to the positive control. Thus, L. vannamei might perceive green, blue, and purple, and not red, orange, and yellow. Discussion This study underlines that the less stressful colours for L. vannamei are red and orange, probably because they cannot perceive these colours. These results are in accordance with other studies held in crustaceans (crabs and crayfish mainly) (Goldsmith and Fernandez, 1968; Marshall et al., 2003). High intensity orange light can thus be used in a tracking device, as it will not stress shrimp and allow a good recognition of the animals by the tracking software. More generally, these colour and light intensity can be used for any experiment led in this shrimp species.

Charline, P., Kersanté, P., Reste, G. L., Corbière, T., Jozet-Alves, C., & Darmaillacq, A.-S. (2023, September 18). The effect of light colour and intensity on the stress of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in video tracking experimental design. European Aquaculture Society 2023. https://hal.science/hal-04225701/ 

Abstract:

Recent advances in bio-sensing technologies open for new possibilities to monitor and safeguard the welfare of fishes in aquaculture. Yet before taken into practice, the applicability of all novel biosensors must be validated, and the breadth of their potential uses must be investigated. Here, we investigated how ECG and accelerometry-derived parameters measured using bio-loggers, such as heart rate, acceleration and variance of acceleration, relate to O2 consumption rate (MO2) and blood borne indicators of stress and tissue damage to determine how biologgers may be used to estimate stress and welfare. To do this, we instrumented 13 fish with a biologger and an intravascular catheter and subjected them to a swimming protocol followed by a stress protocol throughout which the physiological parameters were measured and analyzed a posteriori. Additionally, based on the empirical data obtained, we calculated the mathematical relationships between the bio-logger data and the other parameters and tested the relationship between the calculated parameters using the linear regression algorithms and the measured parameters. Our results show that acceleration is a good proxy for swimming activity as it is closely related to tail beat frequency. In addition, we show that heart rate, acceleration and variance of acceleration all can be used as predictors for metabolic rate. Accelerometry based data, especially variance of acceleration, significantly explain some of the variation in venous partial pressure of O2, blood lactate and plasma cortisol concentration. Variance of acceleration also significantly explains some of the variation in pH and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These relationships are explained by variance of acceleration being a good indicator of the onset of burst-swimming activity, which is often followed by acid-base imbalances and release of catecholamines. The results herein indicate that bio-logger data can be used to extrapolate a range of stress-related physiological events when these are accompanied by increases in activity and highlight the great potential of biosensors for monitoring fish welfare.

Morgenroth, D., Kvaestad, B., Økland, F., Finstad, B., Olsen, R.-E., Svendsen, E., Rosten, C., Axelsson, M., Bloecher, N., Føre, M., & Gräns, A. (2024). Under the sea: How can we use heart rate and accelerometers to remotely assess fish welfare in salmon aquaculture? Aquaculture, 579, 740144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740144 

Abstract:

Legacy media contribute to gendered depictions of culinary themes by associating meat with masculinity, influencing social realities. The current research examines whether similar gendered representations can be found on social media, reinforcing gendered patterns in food consumption. Using content analysis, we examine how men and women tweet about the (non-)consumption of meat. Results confirm gender stereotypes: men tweet more about meat and are more likely to hold negative attitudes toward vegetarianism and veganism. These expressions may reinforce gendered meat consumption patterns, where men continue to choose meat over more healthy and sustainable options.

Peeters, A., Ouvrein, G., Dhoest, A., & De Backer, C. (2023). “Go eat some grass”: Gender differences in the Twitter discussion about meat, vegetarianism and veganism. The Journal of Social Psychology, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2023.2253982

Abstract:

Meta-stereotypes, referring to beliefs about outgroup stereotypes of ingroups, are important to explore in the context of reduced meat and dairy diets, as avoiding these foods raises concerns of judgment. Through open-ended questions, we explored the experiences and perceived barriers among women meat and/or dairy reducers (n = 272), their perceptions of vegans (stereotypes and meta-stereotypes), and how these perceptions affected their lived experiences. We generated six themes through reflexive thematic analysis. Cost (Theme 1) and health concerns (Theme 2) were perceived as the most prominent barriers. Participants' perceptions of vegans were shaped by personal experiences (Theme 3), and their closeness to vegans was reflected in their language (Theme 4). Participants felt reducers occasionally were judged as vegans (Theme 5), which might influence their choices and conformity to eating norms (Theme 6). Fostering a strong sense of community is needed, given the challenge of altering polarized group perceptions.

Wehbe, L. H., Papies, E. K., Duncan, S., & Banas, K. (2023). To stand out or to conform: Stereotypes and meta-stereotypes as barriers in the transition to sustainable diets. OSF Preprints.https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/3a64d/

Abstract:

Engaging communities through exhibits displayed at community-oriented events is a longstanding practice in community activism that could prove valuable for shifting individual and collective behavior toward measures that can help reduce climate change. In this investigation we examined the effect of a climate change community exhibit that focused on four environmental issues: switching to electric vehicles, switching to community solar for residential electricity needs, reducing meat consumption, and supporting forest conservation and reforestation efforts. Participants from the greater Boston area (N = 125) were surveyed before and after attending the exhibit. Attending the exhibit increased participants' perceptions of how many members in their community engaged in action for each issue and how morally right community members thought addressing the issue was. Further, increases in how confident participants felt in engaging in the relevant actions, as well as in ease of engagement were also observed. Participants also expressed increased interest (albeit inconsistently so) in, and likelihood of, engaging in action for each issue. Across all issues, exposure to the exhibit also increased whether engaging in action was rated as an effective way to reduce climate change. Implications and future directions for interventions utilizing climate change exhibits are discussed.

Syropoulos, S., Ashraf, S., Gomez, O., Lowenstein, F., Tariq, A., Niles, T., Fischer, M., & Yoeli, E. (2023). Changing community climate change attitudes: Evidence from a community exhibit intervention. PsyArXiv Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ermxf

Abstract:

Regular consumption of meat products has positive and negative effects on people’s health. Meat consumption is responsible for the majority of the dietary environmental impact of Brazilians. In this context, our paper aims to investigate the environmental and nutritional impacts of more sustainable meat consumption in Brazil. We collected data from the National Dietary Survey for food intake and the life cycle assessment literature database for environmental footprints. We used the ANOVA test to compare the nutritional and environmental impact of the base scenario with three different scenarios of reduction in meat consumption in Brazil. Our results showed that the proposed scenarios reduced the current meat intake by 25–50% and had a positive healthy effect due to the reduction in 24–75% of saturated fat, and 26–69% of cholesterol intake, but also possible negative healthy effect mainly due to the reduction in 26–68% of protein, 24–75% of iron, and 24–78% of zinc intake. A reduction in Brazilian meat consumption also implies a decrease in the dietary environmental impact in terms of carbon footprint by 16–55%, and water footprint and ecological footprint by 12–35% on average. Our results contribute toward policymakers to better understand meat dietary nutritional and environmental impact in Brazil, and to inform a sustainability framework to help actions in food and nutrition policy development in Brazil.

Travassos, G. F., da Cunha, D. A., & Coelho, A. B. (2023). Environmental and nutritional perspective of a more sustainable meat consumption in Brazil. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03941-3

Abstract:

This paper aims to gain more insight into potential synergies between food safety and healthy diets with a sustainable protein transition (i.e., reducing protein over-consumption and replacing animal protein with plant protein) in the EU. The paper is based on a systematic analysis of the survey on food safety, organized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as part of Eurobarometer wave 97.2 (Spring 2022). Consumers responded somewhat differently to the survey items on chemical contaminants in food than to those on biological hazards in food, plant health and animal health and welfare. They were somewhat more aware of and concerned about the former than the latter. They also had different ideas on the most important healthy diet items. Cluster analysis identified five clusters who, inter alia, focused on conventional options (e.g., eating fewer calories) or the protein replacement options. Multilevel logistic regression analysis showed that food safety awareness and concern variables, explicitly including farm animal welfare, were somewhat stronger associated with the protein replacement cluster than with the conventional cluster. Hence, synergies between food safety and healthy diet issues may stimulate the replacement (not reduction) aspects of a sustainable protein transition. The Discussion suggests that further research should investigate how improving the quality of a week menu with a high diversity of protein sources can help to promote the reduction of over-consumption.

de Boer, J., & Aiking, H. (2023). EU consumer awareness of food safety and healthy diets: Are there synergies to benefit a sustainable protein transition? Food Quality and Preference, 111, 104981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.104981

Abstract:

Global food production practices and consumption patterns have changed notably in the last few decades. Current dietary patterns are characterized by increased consumption of refined sugars as well as higher intakes of heavily-processed and animal-source foods, which results in higher obesity rates and increased prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Moreover, diets high in animal products are associated with a larger environmental burden. The aim of this paper is to examine the association between the consumption of meat and fish and economic and socio-demographic factors, different consumption habits and behaviours of individuals in five European countries. Using household-level data, descriptive analysis is presented and regressions using Heckman’s standard sample selection model are conducted. The main reasons for not eating meat or fish are ethics, environment, taste and health. Our findings also suggest that though income results to be significant, its positive effect on meat and fish intake is rather small. Regarding fish, the price of groceries seems to have a significant negative impact while it does not affect the consumption of white meat. This indicates that if we want to lower the consumption of (especially red) meat, we should focus on other factors, such as gender, age, healthy habits and behavioural traits or values (especially factors that are part of the decisionmaking process during food purchases like price, taste, habit, family and appearance). Moreover, meat and fish intakes differ significantly among analysed countries, hence, the policy recommendations should be based on a local context.

Kmeťková, D., Ščasný, M., Zverinova, I., & Maca, V. (2023). Exploring the link between diet and sustainability in Europe: A focus on meat and fish consumption. IES Working Papers 26/2023. https://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/veda-vyzkum/working-papers/2023-26

Abstract:

Humanity needs food system sustainability transitions to align future food demand with the planetary boundaries. This requires stakeholders and organisations to react to each other to change their position, strategies and practices. On the basis of niche-regime interactions in sustainability transitions, we explore the case of Denmark's plant-based food business sector development through 27 company case and expert interviews. We identify four development phases and a sequence in which the different environments of society, users, business, and policy contributed to the diffusion and mainstreaming of ‘plant-based’ in food. We find that the development is characterized by an outside-in and bottom-up direction, meaning that the original trigger came from the international level as well as the consumer demand. Businesses see their key internal success factors in the interplay of their organizational set-up, their product and technology, and their strategic choices. The plant-based market is characterized by changes in terms of increasing competition, a diversification of motives among the users, and marketing communication moving away from ‘vegan/vegetarian’ and towards appealing to the mainstream, flexitarian consumer. Results highlight the importance of change and collaboration among all environments, and the crucial role of the international level as a trigger for national developments.

Aschemann-Witzel, J., Mulders, M. D. G. H., & Mouritzen, S. L. T. (2023). Outside-in and bottom-up: Using sustainability transitions to understand the development phases of mainstreaming plant-based in the food sector in a meat and dairy focused economy. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 197, 122906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122906 

Abstract:

This research investigated the empirical relationship between meat consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Argentina. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) techniques were employed to analyze time-series data from 1990 to 2020. The ARDL bound test demonstrates the long-term cointegration of all variables. According to the DOLS model, a 1 % increase in meat consumption increases GHG emissions by 0.91 % over the long term. Moreover, a 1 % increase in economic growth and energy consumption will increase Argentina's GHG emissions by 1.15 % and 1.32 %, respectively. The fully modified least squares (FMOLS) method was used to assess the reliability of the DOLS results. Additionally, the pairwise Granger causality test was employed to assess the causal relationship between the variables. The empirical findings indicate that the Argentine livestock industry can become more environmentally friendly with proper policy formulation and implementation.

Raihan, A. (2023). The influence of meat consumption on greenhouse gas emissions in Argentina. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 19, 200183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200183

Abstract:

In the climate change context, consumers are often urged to reduce meat consumption because of associated greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is unclear if consumers would pay more for meat with lower carbon footprint, among other credence factors. This paper reports one of the first studies to identify willingness-to-pay for meat that has been carbon-footprint-labelled as an attribute. Four discrete choice experiments are conducted about meat preferences for beef, chicken, lamb and pork, on 1,200 Australian respondents. The results show that credence factors remain less important to most consumers than intrinsic meat properties. Carbon footprint is non-significant in the estimated mixed logit models. Latent class analyses reveal that only one (representing 21% of consumers) out of three classes places high importance on carbon footprint.

De Valck, J., Rolfe, J., Star, M., Rajapaksa, D., & Burton, M. (2023). Who cares about meat carbon footprint? Exploring preferences for credence factors among Australian consumers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 418, 138157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138157

Abstract:

Purpose

Due to the paucity of research examining message framing strategies and attention in anti-consumption advertisements, this study aims to determine whether there is a significant difference between the amount of attention paid towards positively and negatively framed advertisements.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental study design was conducted with a sample of 56 participants using two different (negatively and positively framed) social marketing print advertisements aimed at encouraging a reduction in meat consumption. The research used eye-tracking to examine attention.

Findings

Findings indicate that the negatively framed advertisement elicited significantly higher levels of attention overall than the positively framed advertisement (p < 0.05). Additionally, participants paid significantly more attention to the headline in the negatively framed advertisement than to the headline in the positively framed advert (p < 0.05). Participants also paid significantly more attention to the tagline in the positively framed advertisement (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a negative social marketing framing strategy compared to a positive framing strategy – through the effects these strategies had on consumer attention. Positively and negatively framed advertisements produce different typologies of attention towards advertising elements or areas of interest. These findings provide social marketers important insights about message placement and effectiveness when considering whether to use a positively framed or negatively framed advertisement.

Zunckel, C., Pillay, P., Drummond, M. H., & Rosenstein, D. (2023). Advertising to reduce meat consumption: Positive framing versus negative framing effects on attention. Journal of Social Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-03-2023-0062

Abstract:

Background

Assess the impact of an educational Planetary Health Plate (PHP) graphic on meat-related dietary choices of Stanford University dining hall patrons using a randomized controlled trial crossover design. All patrons entering the dining hall during study periods were enrolled as participants. Control, n = 631; PHP, n = 547.

Methods

Compare dietary behavior without signage to behavior while exposed to PHP during four equivalent dinner meals. The primary outcome was total meat-dish weight adjusted for the number of people entering the dining hall. Secondary outcomes included the number of meat-dish servings and average meat-dish serving weight. Analysis using T-tests, Poisson generalized linear model.

Results

Differences in total meat-dish weight, (1.54 kg; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = -4.41,1.33; P = .19) and average meat-dish serving weight (0.03 kg; 95% CI = 0.00, 0.06; P = .07) between PHP and control patrons did not reach significance. The rate at which PHP patrons took meat was significantly lower (Incidence Rate Ratio 0.80; 95% CI = 0.71, 0.91; P < .001).

Conclusion

Exposure to an educational plate graphic decreased the proportion of patrons taking meat but had no impact on total meat consumption or meat-dish serving weight. Statistical methods used in this study may inform future investigations on dietary change in the dining hall setting. Further research on the role of educational signage in influencing dietary behavior is warranted, with an aim to improve human health and environmental sustainability.

Marcone, A. L., Darmstadt, G. L., Challamel, G. A., Mathur, M. B., & Gardner, C. D. (2023). Effects of an educational planetary plate graphic on meat consumption in a Stanford University dining hall: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Nutrition, 9(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00764-3

Abstract:

The production and consumption of meat and animal products have been associated with an array of ethical, health, and environmental issues. While social scientists have increasingly focused on meat reduction and the promotion of meat alternatives in recent years, and have identified a number of regional, seasonal, and sociodemographic variations in consumption, empirical work is often based on self-reported data. To build a greater understanding of actual dietary habits, we seek to provide analysis based on real food purchase data by aggregating data from different sources. To this end, we explore the consumption of meat and animal products in the Tesco 1.0 dataset, an Open Access dataset representing 420 million food item purchases made by 1.6 million loyalty card users at 411 Tesco stores across Greater London in 2015. The data is aggregated most granularly at the level of monthly purchase of 11 broad food categories in 4833 lower super output areas (LSOA—the smallest geographic area). We represented the consumption of meat and animal products graphically for each month of the year and for each of 33 London boroughs. In general, we found that the spring and summer months had the highest consumption of meat and animal products, including poultry, and this decreased in autumn. We also combined the Tesco 1.0 dataset with datasets from the London Datastore (a free and open data-sharing portal that provides over a thousand datasets to understand the city and develop solutions to its problems), and identified several demographic factors as predictors for the meat consumption. Contrary to our hypothesis, areas with older, lower education, and more conservative populations had a lower proportion of meat consumed. In line with our hypotheses, a lower proportion of meat consumed could be observed in areas with higher population density, better health, and more Hindus. The purpose of this paper is to add to knowledge on regional, seasonal, and sociodemographic variations in animal product consumption, as well as provide a valuable overview of animal product consumption using a novel data source that comprises actual purchase data rather than self-reported consumption.

Cohen Ben-Arye, R., Bryant, C., & Hofmann, K. (2023). Every little helps: Exploring meat and animal product consumption in the Tesco 1.0 dataset. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 4(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00178-y

Abstract:

A largescale shift towards plant-based diets is considered a critical requirement for tackling ethical, environmental, and global health issues associated with animal food production and consumption. Although previous research has identified psychological strategies that enable meat-eaters to justify and continue meat consumption and feel less morally conflicted about it, research on the psychological strategies that enable consumers to continue dairy, egg, and fish consumption is scarce. We conducted an online survey study using an adjusted version of the Meat-Eating Justification Scale to investigate the use of psychological strategies to cope with cognitive dissonance related to meat, dairy, egg, and fish consumption in omnivores (n = 186), pescatarians (n = 106), vegetarians (n = 143), vegans (n = 203), and flexitarians (n = 63). Results indicated greater use of meat-related dissonance reduction strategies among omnivores as compared to other dietary groups, greater use of fish-related dissonance reduction strategies among fish consumers (omnivores, flexitarians and pescatarians) compared to vegetarians and vegans, and greater use of dairy and egg-related dissonance reduction strategies among dairy and egg consumers (omnivores, flexitarians, pescatarians, and vegetarians) as compared to vegans. This pattern was particularly clear for justifications used to defend animal product consumption, denial of animal suffering, and use of dichotomization when considering meat and fish consumption. These findings highlight the importance of extending the research on dissonance reduction strategies beyond meat consumption and studying the consumption of a range of animal products. This can help in identifying the psychological barriers to adopting a plant-based diet and informing interventions for behaviour change.

Ioannidou, M., Lesk, V., Stewart-Knox, B., & Francis, K. B. (2023). Feeling morally troubled about meat, dairy, egg, and fish consumption: Dissonance reduction strategies among different dietary groups. Appetite, 107024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107024

Abstract:

Excessive animal protein consumption has led to calls for a protein transition. Plant-based diets can be fostered by design interventions, yet their effect depends on the framing that is chosen. The aim of this study was to understand which transition design frames (TD frames) are prevalent in existing consumer interventions that challenge the food regime, to help transcend the dominant substitution pathway. We explore framing through the lens of design, examining man-made interventions in a transition context, to complement the discursive lens that is common in transitions literature. Based on 62 existing consumer interventions and eight expert interviews, we arrived at eight TD frames. We find that market regulation and cultural interventions are strategic avenues to pursue. Reframing opportunities involve inclusivity, system breakdown and integrating multiple frames into single interventions. We observe that a design lens helped elucidate frame types that have not previously been identified in transitions literature.

Peeters, A.-L., Tromp, N., Bulah, B., van der Meer, M., van den Boom, L., & Hekkert, P. (2023). Framing for the protein transition: Eight pathways to foster plant-based diets through design. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4571709 

Abstract:

As the market for sustainable food continues to expand, there is a need to understand how consumers’ consumption habits and perceptions are changing. Targeting the younger populations is of interest as they arguably will shape the future of food. Therefore, the present study aimed to provide in-depth consumer insights on a range of topics from current consumption habits (i.e., meat reduction, plant-based meat/seafood (PBM/S)), towards future protein alternatives (i.e., cell-based meat/seafood (CBM/S), precision fermented dairy (PFD)). Online focus groups were conducted in the UK with meat-eaters (n = 38) aged 18–34. Codebook thematic analysis was applied using the Framework Matrix as a tool for data analysis. Key themes were presented using the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation), which identified areas of behavioural change. Results found a trend towards meat reduction, partially initiated by moving away from home and limited food budgets. Overall, participants acknowledged the environmental impact of food, but a notable knowledge gap was apparent when quantifying the effect, especially for dairy and seafood. Compared to PBM, few participants had tried PBS products, partially due to lower availability and familiarity. Enablers for PBM/S included convenience, positive sensory experiences and the influence of others, whilst barriers related to negative health connotations and over-processing. For CBM/S and PFD, animal welfare, curiosity and optimised nutrition acted as enablers, whilst barriers related to wider consumer acceptance, affordability and unnaturalness. In general, participants felt changing food consumption habits can have an impact on climate change and were optimistic about novel technologies supporting future protein transitions. Increasing public understanding around the environmental impact of food, especially seafood and dairy, and prioritising the affordability of sustainable food are suggested as intervention strategies to encourage sustainable food consumption.

Ford, H., Gould, J., Danner, L., Bastian, S. E. P., & Yang, Q. (2023). “I guess it’s quite trendy”: A qualitative insight into young meat-eaters’ sustainable food consumption habits and perceptions towards current and future protein alternatives. Appetite, 107025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107025

Abstract:

Meat consumption has been linked to adverse health consequences, worsening climate change, and the risk of pandemics. Meat is however a popular food product and dissuading people from consuming meat has proven difficult. Outside the realm of meat consumption, previous research has shown that pictorial warning labels are effective at curbing tobacco smoking and reducing the consumption of sugary drinks and alcohol. The present research extends this work to hypothetical meat meal selection, using an online decision-making task to test whether people’s meal choices can be influenced by pictorial warning labels focused on the health, climate, or pandemic risks associated with consuming meat. Setting quotas for age and gender to approximate a UK nationally representative sample, a total of n = 1001 adult meat consumers (aged 18+) were randomised into one of four experimental groups: health pictorial warning label, climate pictorial warning label, pandemic pictorial warning label, or control (no warning label present). All warning labels reduced the proportion of meat meals selected significantly compared to the control group, with reductions ranging from −7.4% to −10%. There were no statistically significant differences in meat meal selection between the different types of warning labels. We discuss implications for future research, policy, and practice.

Hughes, J. P., Weick, M., & Vasiljevic, M. (2023). Impact of pictorial warning labels on meat meal selection: A randomised experimental study with UK meat consumers. Appetite, 107026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107026

Abstract:

Background

Policies to reduce red meat intake are important for mitigating climate change and improving public health. We tested the impact of taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases in the United States. The main study question was, will taxes and warning labels reduce red meat purchases?

Methods and findings

We recruited 3,518 US adults to participate in a shopping task in a naturalistic online grocery store from October 18, 2021 to October 28, 2021. Participants were randomized to one of 4 conditions: control (no tax or warning labels, n = 887), warning labels (health and environmental warning labels appeared next to products containing red meat, n = 891), tax (products containing red meat were subject to a 30% price increase, n = 874), or combined warning labels + tax (n = 866). We used fractional probit and Poisson regression models to assess the co-primary outcomes, percent, and count of red meat purchases, and linear regression to assess the secondary outcomes of nutrients purchased. Most participants identified as women, consumed red meat 2 or more times per week, and reported doing all of their household’s grocery shopping. The warning, tax, and combined conditions led to lower percent of red meat–containing items purchased, with 39% (95% confidence interval (CI) [38%, 40%]) of control participants’ purchases containing red meat, compared to 36% (95% CI [35%, 37%], p = 0.001) of warning participants, 34% (95% CI [33%, 35%], p < 0.001) of tax participants, and 31% (95% CI [30%, 32%], p < 0.001) of combined participants. A similar pattern was observed for count of red meat items. Compared to the control, the combined condition reduced calories purchased (−312.0 kcals, 95% CI [−590.3 kcals, −33.6 kcals], p = 0.027), while the tax (−10.4 g, 95% CI [−18.2 g, −2.5 g], p = 0.01) and combined (−12.8 g, 95% CI [−20.7 g, −4.9 g], p = 0.001) conditions reduced saturated fat purchases; no condition affected sodium purchases. Warning labels decreased the perceived healthfulness and environmental sustainability of red meat, while taxes increased perceived cost. The main limitations were that the study differed in sociodemographic characteristics from the US population, and only about 30% to 40% of the US population shops for groceries online.

Conclusions

Warning labels and taxes reduced red meat purchases in a naturalistic online grocery store.

Taillie, L. S., Bercholz, M., Prestemon, C. E., Higgins, I. C. A., Grummon, A. H., Hall, M. G., & Jaacks, L. M. (2023). Impact of taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases among US consumers: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS Medicine, 20(9), e1004284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004284

Abstract:

The next few decades represent a looming catastrophe for farmed animals. The production of meat and animal products is projected to expand substantially. This growth is expected to be highest for animals who typically experience the poorest welfare conditions on farms (such as chickens, fish, and crustaceans). Furthermore, farming is likely to become more intensive. All of these factors mean that significantly more animals will experience severe suffering for the sake of the production of meat and animal products.

A key driver of this growth is the expansion of intensive animal agriculture in low and lower-middle income countries. As a country's agriculture industry expands, the number of animals farmed in intensive conditions in that country depends on two key factors: per-capita meat consumption (consumption) and the level of industrialisation in meat production systems (production). Both of these key factors follow average trends relating to demographics. Generally, as countries become wealthier, per-capita meat consumption tends to increase, and the meat production system becomes more industrialised.

Critically, there is variation in trends of meat consumption and meat production across different developing countries. Some countries have much lower per-capita meat consumption than other countries with similar levels of wealth, and some countries have become wealthier without a significant increase in per-capita meat consumption. On the production side, some countries exhibit much lower levels of intensification compared to other countries with similar levels of wealth. This suggests that countries can achieve economic growth while minimising harms to animals.

Why does this variation exist? When countries have low per-capita consumption, rates of per-capita consumption that are not increasing, or low levels of intensification, is this because the country has pursued certain policies? If so, what are these policies - and can they be replicated in other countries? Identifying these policies could unlock strategies to prevent large numbers of animals being farmed in abhorrent conditions while developing countries experience economic growth. Alternatively, it is possible that these trends are influenced by factors other than policies, which may not be replicable in other countries. 

This report is aimed at animal advocacy researchers. In particular, this report is intended for researchers who are interested in exploring whether there are particular policies that can influence meat consumption and production as countries develop. We do not make any specific policy recommendations in this report, as the research is still at an early stage. However, we believe that building on this research will indeed uncover impactful policy recommendations in the future.

In this report, we seek to provide a foundation on which other researchers can build and identify promising directions for further research. We have obtained datasets that can be used to identify these outlying countries. For the consumption side, initial exploration of individual countries has taken place, and potential research directions that the movement could pursue are identified. Regarding the production side, data availability has limited our analysis, so we have identified opportunities for the movement to improve the available data.

If you are a researcher interested in slowing the growth of industrial animal agriculture in developing countries, we think the most promising research directions are as follows:

• For consumption, we identified two countries with steady or declining meat and fish consumption: Slovakia and Thailand. It is possible that these steady/declining trends are due to policies that can be replicated in other countries. So, it could be worthwhile for the movement to investigate these two countries in greater depth.

• For consumption, we identified nine countries with low baseline consumption (rather than a steady/declining trend in consumption): Botswana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Eswatini, and India. It could also be worthwhile to investigate the reasons for this low consumption.

• For production, we have identified a dataset (1) that could be useful for figuring out why some countries adopt intensive animal production systems while others do not. But the dataset is incomplete. Spending some time developing this dataset would enable the movement to start investigating which countries have lower-than-expected levels of intensification, and whether this is due to any particular policies that could be replicated in other countries.

• For both consumption and production, comparing different regions within a country could also be a promising research direction. This could also identify policies that explain differences in meat consumption or industrialisation between regions. Due to time constraints, we have only focused on comparing differences across countries.

Blyth, M., & Springlea, R. (2023). Meat consumption and production in developing countries: Who bucks the trend? Animal Ask. https://www.animalask.org/post/meat-consumption-and-production-in-developing-countries-who-bucks-the-trend 

Abstract:

Background: Shifting from diets high in animal-sourced foods towards more plant-based eating patterns can potentially improve the health of people and the environment. Reducing meat and meat-derived products, whilst not completely omitting consumption of animal-sourced foods, is also referred to as a flexitarian diet. Previous assessments of the prevalence of flexitarian diets have predominantly relied on self-reported measures without objective dietary intake analyses. Aim: The aim of the study was to leverage food purchase patterns to map the share of Swiss households that meet the criteria of a flexitarian diet pattern according to a self-developed classification scheme. Method: Analyses were performed using the data of the Swiss Nutrition Atlas (371 Swiss households with a representative proportion of all three language regions, food purchase receipt collection from grocery stores, restaurants, and any other source over two weeks). The flexitarian classification algorithm was developed using the Eat-Lancet planetary health diet targets with adaptions to align with the Swiss dietary recommendations. The criteria for a flexitarian diet (2500kcal/day) entailed restriction of meat consumption to a maximum of 300 grams per week (43g/day), while the maximum for fish and seafood intake was set at 200 grams per week (28.6g/day). Flexitarian households which demonstrated additional animal-sourced foods restrictions for eggs of 175 grams per week (25g/day), dairy (625 calcium equivalents/day for age ≥ 18 years), and butter/cream (10g/day) per day were considered “ultra-flexitarian”. Households with complete omissions of meat were classified vegan, ovolactovegetarian, or pescovegetarian. With the egg and dietary cutoffs we also classified “ultra-ovolactovegetarians” and “ultra-pescovegetarians”. Remaining households were declared omnivorous. Results: The share of flexitarian households was 18.3%, of which only 25% were considered ultra-flexitarian. The share of ovolactovegetarian and pescovegetarian diets was 7.8 and 2.7% (50% of each group met the planetary health target for all animal-sourced food categories). 0.5% were classified vegan. Total fat consumption did not discriminate flexitarian from omnivorous households, but the former showed greater energy shares from protein at the expense of carbohydrates. Recommended dietary fibre target (14g/1000kcal) was not met by any diet group. Salt consumption was highest among omnivorous households, with no differences among other groups. Conclusions: Less than 20% of Swiss households follow a flexitarian diet, and only 5.1% meet additional planetary health targets for all animal-sourced foods. Despite the meat-restricted diets, dietary fibre targets were not achieved, while health benefits were seen for salt intake. Apart from underscoring unmet nutritional and sustainability goals, we hereby present the potential of commercial data as novel approach for assessing dietary patterns with greater objectivity and compositional details.

Eggenschwiler, M., Stoll, M., Linzmajer, M., & Bally, L. (2023). Meat-restricted diets in Switzerland. Forschungszentrum für Handelsmanagement. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374160790_Meat-Restricted_Diets_in_Switzerland

Abstract:

Meat-based diets are carbon-intensive and incompatible with Paris climate targets. Reducing meat consumption is essential to mitigate climate change. Behavioural nudges, which present structured choices to citizens, have been increasingly used to reduce meat demand. But they face ethical challenges and limits when scaling up. We test if encouraging people to reflect after nudging improves the effectiveness of a nudge. We design and administer a novel randomised controlled trial in a German university cafeteria, lasting for five weeks (N_Participants=129, N_Meals=645). In week 1, we measure baseline dietary behaviours. In week 2, we introduce a labelling nudge in the cafeteria. Subsequently, in weeks 3 & 4, we assign participants randomly to three experimental conditions: a control group that continues to receive the labelling nudge and two treatment groups that get the labelling nudge with an opportunity to reflect, either on the nudge (nudge+ 1) or their own preferences (nudge+ 2). All treatments are discontinued in week 5. In the pooled sample, controlling for period fixed effects, we find that the labelling nudge is not associated with meaningful changes in meat-demand over time. Nonetheless, being encouraged to reflect reduces meat-demand significantly compared to the nudge -- the nudge+ 1 reduces chances of buying a meat-based item in the cafeteria by 5% whereas the nudge+ 2 reduces it by 7%. These treatment effects attenuate when the interventions are discontinued. We recommend that combining reflection with nudging can improve sustainable dietary behaviours, at least in the short-term.

Thamer, P., Banerjee, S., & John, P. (2023). Pledging after nudging improves uptake of plant-based diets: A field experiment in a German University cafeteria. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4552843

Abstract:

Objective:

Shifting from meat-centric to plant-rich diets may help to enable healthier and more sustainable food systems. Here we present the results of a 1-week intervention to promote plant-based eating in a meat-centric food context (i.e. canteen).

Design:

The intervention included environmental restructuring strategies (e.g. promotional materials and menu redevelopment) and improvements to the offer of plant-based meals. The evaluation (sales data; pre-registered) spanned 3 weeks prior to the intervention (baseline), 1 week during the intervention (immediate/short-term impact) and 3 weeks after the intervention (follow-up). Opinion surveys were also used to collect data with customers during the intervention.

Setting:

Canteen unit of a university campus in Portugal (Lisbon metropolitan area).

Participants:

In addition to sales data (baseline: 7965 meals; immediate/short-term: 2635 meals; follow-up: 7135 meals), we used opinion surveys to assess customers’ meal appraisals during the intervention (n = 370).

Results:

The odds of a sold meal being vegetarian were 24 % higher in the intervention week compared with the pre-intervention period [OR = 1·24, 95 % CI (1·10, 1·40)] and 9 % higher in the post-intervention period compared with the pre-intervention period [OR = 1·09, (95 % CI (1·00, 1·19)]. Survey data showed that vegetarian meals compared favourably to meat and fish alternatives in liking, sustainability and satiety.

Conclusions:

A short-term, theory-driven, operationally feasible intervention was effective in promoting increased plant-based meal choices in a collective meal context. Nevertheless, these changes were not entirely sustained over time. Future studies could test whether prolonged or more transformative interventions are necessary to unlock entrenched food practices more effectively in meat-centric collective meal contexts.

Guedes, D., Brazão, V., Roque, L., Campos, L., Godinho, C., Truninger, M., Vinnari, M., & Graça, J. (2023). Promoting plant-based eating in meat-centric meal contexts: A field study. Public Health Nutrition, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023001763 

Abstract:

Studying the drivers of animal protein consumption (APC), beyond just meat consumption, is of great importance as reducing APC has a high potential to mitigate climate change and other environmental issues. One known determinant of food behavior is the social environment. However, in pro-environmental literature, social contacts' influence on meat consumption is often limited to normative influence (social norms). Moreover, when social influence on other pro-environmental food behavior is examined, only the direct association without possibly underlying mechanisms and mostly short-term behaviors rather than usual dietary patterns are addressed. This study addresses these gaps by examining the pathways of mechanisms behind the influence of perceived APC reduction behavior by close social contacts on behavior - in our case self-reported APC behavior (social influence) among young adults (age 18–35). We propose a conceptual model that integrates traditional social influence theories from communication science and social psychological theories and considers social contacts' behavior an antecedent of TPB and NAM constructs. Cross-sectional survey data, including egocentric network data, were collected in January 2022 through an online citizen panel among 204 young adults. The results of Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling suggest that social contacts' perceived APC reduction behavior influences multiple psychological constructs beyond social norms (awareness of consequences, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and attitude) simultaneously. All constructs except for social norms are internalized into a personal norm, which then leads to an increased intention to reduce APC and a decreased self-reported APC. Altogether, our study identified mechanisms behind social influence, which can also be applied to other behaviors. Leveraging close social contacts may be a promising pathway for policy and changemakers to stimulate the internalization of psychological constructs related to APC reduction.

Severijns, R., Streukens, S., Brouwer, J., & Lizin, S. (2023). Social influence and reduction of animal protein consumption among young adults: Insights from a socio-psychological model. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 90, 102094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102094

Abstract:

Background

Reducing meat consumption is advocated for healthier and more sustainable diets. However, behavioral studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying meat-reducing dietary changes.

Objectives

The main aim of this study was to compare the motives associated with stages of change toward meat reduction in French adults, using the transtheoretical model (TTM). A second aim was to investigate the associations between stages of change and adherence to dietary patterns favoring a better balance of animal and plant food consumption over time.

Methods

This longitudinal study included 25,143 non-vegetarian participants of the web-based NutriNet-Santé cohort with a mean follow-up of 6.2 (SD = 2.6) y. Dietary data were obtained from 24-h dietary records over the period 2009–2019. The contribution of meat to total energy intake and scores measuring the contribution of healthy and unhealthy plant-based foods to the diet were computed. A questionnaire completed in 2018 allowed us to identify the TTM stages of change related to meat reduction (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance), and recorded motives related to meat consumption. We used multivariate linear mixed models for repeated data to assess associations between food intake changes and stages, and logistic regression for motives, presented as adjusted frequencies.

Results

Participants in later stages were characterized by a significantly higher decrease in meat intake over time, compared with the earliest stage (for example, βmaintenance ∗ time = −0.08, P < 0.0001), and a higher increase in the healthy plant-based food consumption score over time (for example, βmaintenance∗time = 0.11, P < 0.0001). Concerns about health, nutrition, and the environment were the most frequently cited motives for reducing meat consumption at all stages.

Conclusions

Individuals who had already initiated meat reduction adhered to healthier and more sustainable diets than meat continuers. Characterizing motives according to readiness to reduce meat consumption could support tailored public health campaigns.

Reuzé, A., Méjean, C., Sirieix, L., Baudry, J., Kesse-Guyot, E., Druesne-Pecollo, N., Brunin, J., Hercberg, S., Touvier, M., Péneau, S., & Allès, B. (2023). Stages of change toward meat reduction: Associations with motives and longitudinal dietary data on animal-based and plant-based food intakes in French adults. The Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.09.017

Abstract:

Anthropomorphizing or humanizing food is a common marketing practice that has gained significant scholarly attention in the past few years. The present systematic review analyzes articles that examined the effects of anthropomorphizing various food and food ingredients on consumers' behavior to synthesize the existing body of work into an integrative framework, provide managerial recommendations, and identify avenues for future research. Using the Prisma 2020 statement for systematic reviews, a systematic search of four databases (EBSCO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed, quantitative articles published in English till the March 10, 2023 was undertaken, resulting in a final number of 21 articles meeting our selection criteria. The identified articles studied anthropomorphism of one of the three categories of food – regular food, misshapen/irregularly-shaped food, and meat animal. Analysis based on an integrative framework suggests that, in general, anthropomorphizing misshapen produce and regular food has a positive effect on behavior towards the food (e.g., purchase intention) and the restaurant/brand (e.g., restaurant visit intention) among adult consumers through elicitation of cognitive and affective responses. However, anthropomorphizing meat animals reduces consumers’ intention to buy or eat meat by evoking negative emotions such as guilt. Similarly, anthropomorphizing regular food discourages consumption among children. The framework highlights several moderating variables of these effects. Based on the insights from this literature review, several recommendations for practitioners and researchers are suggested.

Mishra, R., & Mehta, R. (2023). The effects of food anthropomorphism on consumer behavior: A systematic literature review with integrative framework and future research directions. Appetite, 190, 107035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107035 

Abstract:

Meat-based food production has a detrimental impact on the environment and health. In response, Veganuary (an international non-profit organisation) encourages people to go vegan each January. We investigated the effects of a Veganuary campaign in workplace cafeterias which increased the availability and salience of plant-based products. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis on a large dataset from a UK catering company, which comprised 2,255,404 meals sold between 2016 and 2022, with Veganuary activity starting from 2019. Analysis indicated that Veganuary activity had a positive effect on sales of vegan products in 2020, 2021 and 2022, estimated at an initial increase of 86–113% in the proportion of weekly sales (relative to the baseline, depending on year). The effects of the 2020 and 2021 campaigns were still present – at approximately one third of their initial magnitude – one year following the campaigns. There was a positive effect on vegetarian products in 2019, 2021 and 2022; initial effects were smaller – 23–79% – due to higher levels of pre-campaign consumption. The effects of the 2019 and 2021 campaigns endured, with a small impact present after one year for 2019 and six months for 2021.

McPhedran, R., Zhuo, S., Zamperetti, L., & Gold, N. (2023). The effects of Veganuary on meal choices in workplace cafeterias: An interrupted time series analysis. Behavioural Public Policy, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2023.27

Abstract:

Climate change debates have helped frame vegetarianism as a conscientious choice across the globe and also projected India as a shining example of vegetarianism. Before this Euro-American vegetarians had long romanticized India as an ideal vegetarian society, and have assumed it to be based on progressive ethics. This article challenges such assumptions and complicates the Euro-American association of vegetarian dietary preferences with the ethical concerns of virtue, animal welfare, and sustainability. We contend that neither is India a vegetarian society nor is mainstream vegetarianism in contemporary India based on progressive ethics. We use in-depth interviews and extensive news reports to show that vegetarianism in India is a majoritarian political ideology associated with caste-based discrimination and violence, making it inimical to notions of non-violence, equality, and freedom. Majoritarian vegetarianism in contemporary India aims to conserve the caste system and its attendant inequalities. This study traces the ideological and repressive state apparatuses through which the fantasy and norms of vegetarianism are propped up in contemporary India. We argue that an uncritical acceptance of mainstream vegetarianism in contemporary India as a benevolent cultural preference whitewashes its discriminatory and violent nature, helps the caste system persist, and can undermine the well-being and nutritional outcomes of a majority of the Indian population especially those from non-elite social groups that have historically been omnivorous.

Hasnain, A., & Srivastava, A. (2023). Vegetarianism without vegetarians: Caste ideology and the politics of food in India. Food and Foodways, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/07409710.2023.2261721

Abstract:

Research shows that adult meat eaters strategically distort or disregard information about animals (e.g., their intelligence) that is problematic for meat consumption. However, the development of such behaviours is not well understood. Two studies tested whether primary-school-age children exhibit motivated use of information about food animals as adults do (N = 148 children, 410 adults). Using experimental methods that manipulated participants’ perceptions of the intelligence (high vs. low) of food animals versus non-food animals (Study 1) and the perspective taken (self vs. other; Study 2), it was found that, compared to adult omnivores, children tend to hold stronger moral views about the wrongness of harming animals to use as food. Only adults exhibited motivated non-use of intelligence information and self-other distinctions in their moral-concern judgments. Children's judgments of eating animals did not exhibit the strategic, self-serving processes characteristic of adult meat eaters. Psychological explanations for these developmental differences are discussed.

Kozachenko, H. H., & Piazza, J. (2023). How bad is it to eat an intelligent chicken? Children’s judgments of eating animals are less ‘self‐serving’ than adults. Social Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12709 

Abstract:

The present preregistered research examined whether animal stereotypes predict choosing to empathize with them. In two studies (ns = 173 and 202), participants chose between taking an empathic or objective perspective with 48 animals representing 16 different species, classified into four groups representing perceived competence and warmth. While less likely to choose an empathic than an objective perspective for all animal groups, empathy choice was stronger for those stereotyped as high-competent (vs. low-competent, Study 1 and 2) and high-warmth (vs. low-warmth, Study 2 only) species. Variation in cognitive difficulty of being empathic (vs. objective) helped explain empathy choice preferences derived from stereotypes about animals, most robustly stereotypes about an animal’s competence (Studies 1 and 2). Suggesting its importance, empathy choice was positively associated with the amount participants were willing to donate toward each animal’s welfare (Study 2).

Swim, J. K., Guerriero, J. G., Lengieza, M. L., & Cameron, C. D. (2023). The effects of stereotypes about animals’ competence and warmth on empathy choice. Anthrozoös, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2248763

Abstract:

A decade ago, veganism was a fringe radical movement. It was also largely absent from the geographical discipline, despite a rich history of vegan scholarship being present in disciplines such as Sociology and Psychology. However, veganism has recently seen a surge in popularity, with more people than ever before becoming vegan for a mixture of animal welfare, environmental, and health-based reasons. With this mainstreaming, veganism has become contentious and fiercely defended. As veganism has become a growing social and political force, geographers have started to take notice of this previously fringe movement, which is gaining economic, ecological, and cultural power as investment flows into ‘plant-based’ products and new markets are emerging. In this commentary, we look at how veganism has recently been taken up in Geography via several distinct trends that all stake a claim in defining an emerging geographical sub-discipline, vegan geographies. We note the importance of scholarly pluralism and attention to establishing geographical sub-disciplines more broadly.

Oliver, C., Turnbull, J., & Richardson, M. (2023). Claiming veganism and vegan geographies. The Geographical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12546  

Abstract:

The noticeable shift towards veganism signifies a fundamental change in how people view what they consume. Veganism has been growing and receiving increasing scientific attention. However, current studies about veganism are in the nascent stages with several gaps. The study aims to fill these gaps and add to the existing knowledge of veganism by investigating how consumers conceptualize it and how and why individuals purchase vegan products. Using the grounded theory approach, the study aligns behavioural reasoning theory (BRT) to conceptualize vegan adoption and purchase behavior. The study mainly focuses on the reasons and challenges faced while following a vegan lifestyle. 50 US and UK vegans were interviewed using a semi-structured qualitative design. The findings reflected that veganism is much more than a dietary behavior adopted as a lifestyle philosophy. The most significant factors impacting the adoption of vegan food are personal, social, contextual, ethical, and moral reasons. The study further identified psychological, social, and marketing inhibitors as challenges in adopting vegan food. The findings also identified vegan adoption and activism as behavioral intentions toward vegan food. Vegan activism may serve as a double-edged sword as it can be good in spreading awareness, but it can also be seen as an activist who tries to force their views on others. The study findings have significant implications and future directions for academics, retailers, and policymakers interested in veganism.

Habib, M. D., Alghamdi, A., Sharma, V., Mehrotra, A., & Badghish, S. (2024). Diet or lifestyle: Consumer purchase behavior of vegan retailing. A qualitative assessment. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 76, 103584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103584 

Abstract:

Research has demonstrated the health benefits of shifting from an animal product diet to a plant-based diet. However, social beliefs may be barriers to eating plant-based. Thus, we determined facilitators and barriers to transitioning to plant-based consumption. U.S. adults consuming an exclusively plant-based (i.e., vegan) diet (n = 1,141, 86% female, 81% non-Hispanic White) were recruited from 38 vegan Facebook groups and surveyed from December 2020 through January 2021. Results from chi square analyses indicated significant relationships between length of veganism and main motivator for becoming vegan (χ2 = 37.07, P < .001), most effective facilitator in helping flexitarians to fully become vegan (χ2 = 17.35, P = .001), most effective strategy in helping others become vegan (χ2 = 12.07, P = .017), and main barrier to becoming vegan (χ2 = 23.80, P < .001). There were significant relationships between time to become vegan and perceived main facilitator for the recent increase in transitioning to veganism (χ2 = 16.81, P = .019), and main barrier to becoming vegan (χ2 = 24.34, P < .001). Future interventions can use these results to address facilitators and barriers and create a toolkit for transitioning to plant-based consumption and improving dietary behaviors in the United States.

Lopez, N. V., Sirvinskas, E., & Sutliffe, J. T. (2023). Facilitators and barriers for adopting a plant-based diet: Results From a pilot study among vegans in the United States. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276231198486