Consumer Attitudes and Concerns about Beef Consumption in Argentina and Other South American Countries

BIFARETTI, ADRIÁN; PAVAN, ENRIQUE; GRIGIONI, GABRIELA

Agriculture

MDPI

Año: 2023 vol. 13

In South America, modifications in beef consumption habits, mainly related to economicreasons, new lifestyles, and new eating behaviors, are being observed. If this trend continues, beefconsumption could continue to fall or there would be a greater share of cheaper types of meat.In general, consumer concerns related to health, animal welfare, and environmental impact areincreasing. Most of the population in South America follows an omnivorous diet, with a minorityof vegetarians/vegans. In Argentina, around 30% consider themselves as flexitarians and around5% as vegetarians/vegans, with centennials and millennials being the ones that mostly follow thesetypes of behaviors. For flexitarians, the main reason that leads them to adopt this diet is the searchfor healthier eating. In general, consumers consider livestock production to be a sustainable activity;although, ethical concerns are growing among the younger generations. Finally, around 30% of thetotal population is willing to partially replace the consumption of beef to avoid animal slaughter and8% would abandon it for this reason. The current trend would indicate that, if the conditions definedby the present scenarios continue, the motivations to consume less beef could be strengthened