Meat consumption continues to decline – saving lives

– This is fantastic news and shows that together, we can make a big difference for countless animals! The chickens are the animals that are the most exploited and suffer the worst on factory farms. Therefore, it is particularly important that this very consumption is reduced, says Anna Harenius, Animal Welfare Specialist of Project 1882.



Meat consumption has declined by a total of 2.6 percent in Sweden, if all animal species except fish are counted for. Project 1882 has recalculated the Swedish Board of Agriculture's statistics on meat consumption from kilos to number of individuals. The Swedes' reduced meat consumption in the first six months of 2023, has spared approximately 1.9 million chickens, 55,000 pigs and 2,500 cattle. The consumption of mutton has however increased during the period and therefore claimed an additional 20,000 lives. The new statistics presents the numbers and results of the first half of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, and therefore only gives an indication of the rest of the year.



In 2021, the consumption of chickens increased by six percent in Sweden, which can be compared to almost eight million individuals. The development continued at a similar pace during most of 2022. The increased consumption led Project 1882 to implement major investments for the chickens through, among other things, commercials, corporate collaborations, and vegan dietary challenges. This major focus has continued throughout summer of 2023 and the hope is that the consumption of meat continues to decline. The ongoing inflation can also affect how much meat households buy.