Nearly Every Medical Professional Favors Meat Products to Be Accompanied by Health Cautionary Statements
In a recent survey conducted by the Kompetenzzentrum Öffentliche IT (ÖFIT) at the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, it has been revealed that the majority of health professionals in Europe are concerned about the high consumption of meat and its impact on public health.
The survey found that 84% of health professionals believe that this high meat consumption is a public health concern, with 89% feeling that large food companies have too much influence over national policy decisions. This sentiment is strongest in France, where 94% of health professionals share these concerns, and weakest in Italy, where 68% agree.
One of the key issues highlighted in the survey is the influence of livestock producers on studies suggesting that red meat is good for health. However, most health professionals surveyed agree that diets high in red and processed meats increase the risk of heart disease and some cancers. A large review revealed that no amount of processed meat is safe for human health.
In response to these concerns, calls for a reform of the EU's Common Agriculture Policy have been made due to its contribution to meat overconsumption and related health issues. Currently, 82% of subsidies under the policy have gone to animal agriculture, four times higher than plant-based farming. Over four in five (82%) of health professionals feel that there's too little government funding to promote plant-rich dietary patterns for improved public health.
To address these concerns, health professionals are calling for warning labels on red and processed meat products regarding their health impacts. This is supported by 95% of health professionals in Europe. In the UK alone, reducing per capita meat consumption to two to three servings each week could prevent 45,000 premature deaths and cut annual national healthcare costs by £1.2B.
In addition to warning labels, health professionals also support a reduction in meat-based meals in public institutions like schools and hospitals. 87% of health professionals support this initiative. In Germany, 29% of health professionals want a reform of national dietary guidelines to align with the latest research on meat's health impact.
"We need action, both from the supermarkets shaping our food systems, and from governments, to rebalance our diets," said Bond. More than seven in 10 (72%) doctors agree that the meat industry is trying to undermine the scientific evidence about the health detriments of eating too much red or processed meat.
However, in Italy, one in five health professionals (19%) doesn't think red and processed meat should carry health warnings. In France and Spain, fewer doctors think the meat industry is actively undermining scientific evidence about health implications.
Despite these differences, the overwhelming consensus among health professionals in Europe is that action needs to be taken to reduce meat consumption and promote a healthier, more plant-based diet.
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