Global Meat Consumption Hits 'Meat Exhaustion Day' as Intake Doubles EAT‑Lancet Recommendation

• The global appetite for meat is outpacing what the planet can sustain, with consumption now more than double recommended levels.
• High-income countries drive the overshoot, using up their yearly recommendation within months.
• FOUR PAWS promotes solutions, introducing a meat consumption calculator.

Cape Town, 24 June 2026 - This year, 24 June marks the point the world surpasses its recommended annual meat intake under the Planetary Health Diet, according to calculations by global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS.

Meat Exhaustion Day Highlights Unsustainable Consumption

Reaching “Meat Exhaustion Day” already halfway through the year underscores how global meat consumption far exceeds sustainable levels.

The threshold of meat intake recommended for a healthy, sustainable and just food system by the EAT-Lancet Commission is 16.4 kilograms per person per year, yet global consumption averages 34.5 kilograms – more than double.

In Global North regions such as North America, Europe, and Australia, intake exceeds this by 70–80%, with countries like the United States and Australia reaching their Meat Exhaustion Day as early as mid-March.

The Environmental And Animal Welfare Impact

Each year, up to 88 billion animals suffer in factory farms systems.

Today, animal farming is responsible for one sixth of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the main drivers of deforestation, habitat loss, waste of water, and pollution.

Factory farms, where animals are kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, pose major global health risks through pollution, antibiotic resistance, and disease outbreaks and spread.

“We’re consuming far beyond what animals and the planet can sustain. Meat Exhaustion Day makes that imbalance impossible to ignore. Behind every bite is a system that impacts billions of animals, drives the climate crisis, and pushes ecosystems to the brink.

The current global food system is broken, and as consumers, it is important to make informed decisions when choosing what to eat, knowing where our food is sourced and what its impacts are. This calculator is a simple way to offer information, spark curiosity, and encourage people to make small dietary changes that can collectively lead to a big difference,” says Asma Al Hajal, expert on Animals Farmed in Inappropriate Conditions at FOUR PAWS.

New Tool Reveals Personal Meat Impact

To help individuals better understand and reduce their consumption, FOUR PAWS has launched a new Meat Consumption Calculator – an interactive tool that translates personal eating habits into clear, science-based guidance.

Users enter the amounts of different types of meat they eat. The calculator then visually shows how their diet impacts farmed animals, and how it compares to the EAT-Lancet recommendation.

It then suggests tailored adjustments to help users stay within the recommended limit of 16.4 kilograms of meat per year.

Making Plant-Based Choices Accessible

FOUR PAWS teams up with Chef Priyanka

To demonstrate how reducing meat consumption can be both practical and enjoyable, FOUR PAWS is partnering with awarding-winning author and eco-chef Priyanka Naik, who has developed an innovative burger recipe as an alternative to traditional meat-based meals.

The recipe showcases how familiar dishes can be reimagined using plant-based ingredients and leftovers – offering delicious flavours with a lower impact on animals and the environment.

“Countries are exceeding their limit of meat consumption, and we need to do something – one burger at a time. Burgers are among the top two items consumed in the U.S. and are not only devastating to the animals and environment, but also to one's health.

So, if you're looking to live a long life on a healthy planet, I recommend incorporating a few more of my Chef Priyanka burgers into your diet. They're protein and fiber-packed burgers with surprising ingredients you'll already have on hand," says Chef Priyanka Naik.