Meat Eaters Produce 59% More Greenhouse Gases Than Vegetarians - New Study

Researchers from the University of Leeds analysed the carbon footprint of different food products to discover that those who eat meat produce significantly more greenhouse gases than those who follow a vegetarian diet. 

According to the report, meat-eaters produce nearly 60 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions than vegetarians. The study published in the scientific journal PLOS One was led by senior researcher Darren Greenwood.

The researchers' team analysed over 3,000 different foods regarding emissions generated during the manufacturing process of each product. 

Greenhouse emissions of individual foods were added to the UK Composition Of Foods Integrated Dataset (COFID) and linked to automated online dietary assessment for 212 adults over three 24-hour periods. 

The researchers linked greenhouse emissions foods, exploring associations between individuals' greenhouse emissions, dietary patterns, World Health Organization recommended nutrient requirements and demographic characteristics. 

The study discovered that meat diets had greenhouse emissions nearly 60 per cent (59%) higher than vegetarian diets.

The scientists' team found that meat is responsible for 32 per cent and dairy for 14 per cent of diet-related carbon footprint. 

Interestingly, researchers found that due to higher meat consumption, men's diets produce 41 per cent higher emissions than women's diets.

The report authors concluded: "Meat was the dominant driver for diet-related GHG emissions, explaining most of the differences between GHG emissions associated with vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets, and between the differences in GHG emissions associated with the diets of men and women." 

Among other foods which had a more negative impact on the environment, researchers included tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, cakes, cookies, biscuits and sweets. These products altogether were responsible for a quarter of food-related greenhouse emissions. Avoiding these products may be a way to reduce CO2 emissions. 

 The study authors wrote: "Those who met dietary recommendations had generally lower diet-related GHG emissions, suggesting future policies to encourage sustainable dietary patterns and plant-based diets could be good for both individual and planetary health."

The latest study's findings confirm that animal-based foods have the most significant environmental impact.