12% of Americans account for 50% of beef consumption in the US

A study published in the journal Nutrients found that men were more likely than women to consume beef , defined by the study authors as more than 4 ounces (about 120 grams) of beef per 2,200 calories. Older adults, college graduates, and those who viewed the online educational campaign MyPlate were less likely to consume a diet disproportionately focused on beef.

"Given the environmental and health impacts of beef consumption, it is useful to know who is eating this one-sided diet so we can better target education programs," said Diego Rose, one of the study's authors.

A 2020 study from the University of Michigan and Tulane University, supported by the Center, found that if U.S. beef consumption were reduced by 90%, along with a 50% reduction in other animal products, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2 billion tons by 2030. That’s roughly equivalent to taking nearly half the world’s cars off the road for a year.

“Many Americans eat nearly eight times more beef per day than is recommended for a sustainable diet,” said Mark Rifkin, a senior food and agricultural policy specialist at the center. “There’s no getting around the fact that if we’re going to solve climate change, we need to eat a lot less beef.”