Vienna, 17 June 2025 – The world is consuming more than twice as much meat as our planet and health can digest. On average, each person eats the equivalent of almost five burgers every week. Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS also found that this year, the world will reach global meat exhaustion day already on June 19th. By this date, the maximum annual meat intake of 15,7 kilos – as recommended by the Planetary Health Diet of the scientific EAT-Lancet Commission – will have been exhausted globally. To address the severe consequences of meat production and consumption, FOUR PAWS urges governments to phase out factory farming and set policy targets for a sustainable food system change.

Just in 2023, more than 85 billion farmed land animals were slaughtered for consumption, according to the FAO. FOUR PAWS recommends to switch to products with certified animal welfare standards and to choose plant-based alternatives.

70% cut needed – Global North especially meat hungry

FOUR PAWS found that especially high-income countries are hungry for meat and need to cut back their consumption by more than 70%. North Americans are leading the ranking and devour the equivalent of almost 13 burgers (1.63 kg of meat) per week, more than five times the recommended amount. Closely following are Australia and New Zealand (12.5 burgers – 1.6 kg), South America (10 burgers – 1.2 kg) and Europe (9,5 burgers – 1.1 kg). On average, African countries show the least meat consumption (more than two burgers – 256 grams), which is slightly below the maximum recommended weekly meat ratio of the Planetary Health Diet of 302 grams. While the USA are the first country to reach Meat Exhaustion Day on March 9 2025, some countries of the Global South like Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo consume less than the Planetary Health Diet threshold, thus never reaching Meat Exhaustion Day.

We are eating more than our health or planet can digest

“Deaths, diseases, climate crisis and pollution. The effects of this over-consumption are devastating. We are eating more meat than our planet and our health can digest,” adds van Bekkem. Data shows that animal agriculture accounts for up to one sixth of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions. Animal agriculture is a growing driver for the climate crisis and the leading cause for habitat loss, water use and pollution on earth. Meat consumption can also have a heavy toll on human health, with obesity, diabetes and an increased risk of lethal diseases being possible implications, as studies have shown.

About Meat Exhaustion Day

Meat Exhaustion Day is calculated by FOUR PAWS by comparing the average actual consumption of meat per person with the Planetary Health Diet, recommended by the renowned EAT-Lancet Commission. This panel of international scientists gives guidance for what would be a consumption pattern that provides healthy food for a growing world population, within planetary boundaries. You can find more information on the factsheet.