The average Canadian is consuming a quantity of red meat well within Canada’s Food Guide recommendations.
The Canadian Community Health Surveys, conducted in 2004 and 2015 using 24-hour dietary recalls, found red meat intake (fresh and processed) declined from 75 grams to 61 grams; a 14-gram difference. On average, Canadians are consuming red and processed meats within the amounts recommended in Canada’s Food Guide.
Average grams per day – 2004
1* Fresh red meat: 53.5g
2* Processed red meat: 21.9g
Total: 65.4g
Average grams per day – 2015
1* Fresh red meat: 41.4g
2* Processed red meat: 19.9g
Total: 61.0g
1* Includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb – including ground meat and burger
2* Includes salted beef, bacon (not turkey or chicken bacon) ham, sausages (not turkey or meatless), and luncheon meats (not considered poultry)
The decline in meat consumption is validated by Statistics Canada’s disappearance data where the net supply is divided by the Canadian population.
Statistica Canada Canadian Meat Disappearance 1980-2016
So, what would be the harm if Canadians further reduced their red meat intake as touted in the popular press? It could certainly exasperate an already concerning situation of inadequate intakes of essential nutrients; especially for women.
According to Health Canada’s Evidence Review for Dietary Guidance, a significant number of women – 48% of women 31-50 years of age and 69% of females older than 70 years of age – are already consuming less than the recommended number of servings for meat and alternatives. Incidentally, so are 56% of adolescent males.
The report also noted some Canadians, especially women and older adults, have inadequate intakes of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Iron and zinc are available in red meat in the form that the body can most easily absorb and vitamin B12 is found only in foods of animal origin. Of concern, is that further reductions in red meat consumption by these population groups may lead to deficiencies affecting mental health, energy levels, and infant birth weight. Certainly, some Canadians would benefit from eating more meat.
The real public health concern should be the astonishing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
New research commissioned by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada shows that ultra-processed food consumption in Canada continues to increase and is alarmingly high, accounting for almost half of our daily calorie intake. This includes fast food, sugary drinks, snacks, chips, candies, cookies, sweetened milk products, sweetened cereals, and sauce and dressings. Ultra-processed foods provided 48% of the total daily energy intake whereas fresh and processed red meats contributed only 8% of total energy intake.
For most people, balance needs to come from swapping refined grains and empty calories for whole grains and vegetables; not reducing meat.
References
Apparent disappearance data, Statistics Canada
Canadian Community Health Surveys (Nutrition) 2004 and 2015, Statistics Canada
Evidence Review for Dietary Guidance Technical Report, 2015, Health Canada
Ultra-processed foods in Canada: consumption, impact on diet quality and policy implications, December 2017, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
