Meat consumption in terms of volume actually increased in the United States during 2009, but the amount spent was lower, due to lower prices and consumers turning to cheaper cuts.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans who had seen a significant drop in household income said that meat consumption was an area in which they had made changes, according to foodproductiondaily.com.
The report, The Power of Meat, by the American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute, was based on an online poll of 1,174 consumers and was conducted in November 2009.
According to the survey the price of meat and meat-based pre-prepared meals is the most important factor when considering whether to buy, “well ahead of appearance”.
Consumers are also looking at the impact of meat consumption on their health and most likely to cut back on portion sizes, select lower-sodium processed meats, and choose fish or seafood more often.
The proportion of shoppers buying organic meat has stayed relatively stable (at 18%) with young people most likely to buy organic, according to the report.
The survey also found that most people are not loyal to branded meat – with 74% percent of shoppers saying brand is an unimportant factor for fresh meat, and 62% saying the same for processed meat.
