Meat consumption has fallen in the Netherlands

The total per capita consumption of MEAT and meat products in the Netherlands in 2020 was 75.9 kg, 1.9 kg less than in 2019.

In 2020, Dutch consumers reduced meat consumption by 1.9 kg, which is considered the biggest drop in 15 years. According to data published by Wageningen University, per capita consumption in the Netherlands was 75.9 kg. The decrease was mainly observed in three main categories of meat: poultry (0.8 kg), pork (0.5 kg) and beef (0.4 kg). Figures for 2020 show a decline in meat consumption for the first time since 2010-2016. The decrease of almost 2 kg per year is almost the same as the decrease between 2010 and 2016.

Restrictions imposed in the Netherlands during the first waves of the pandemic accelerated this downward trend, although domestic meat consumption increased. In 2020, supermarkets and butchers sold 24.6 million kilograms more meat than in 2019. This increase was mainly due to sales of meat (more than 23.3 million kilograms) and less to sales of cold cuts (nearly 1.3 million kilograms). This increase does not offset the decline in meat consumption in 2020, the report notes.