Meat consumption in the UK has changed over the years, with some meats declining in popularity while others have increased. To determine what meat is eaten most in the UK today, we need to look at the latest consumption statistics.
Pork is the most popular meat in the UK
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in 2019, pork was the most consumed meat in the UK at 1.33 million tonnes. This was followed closely by poultry at 1.31 million tonnes. Beef and veal came in third at 796 thousand tonnes. Lamb consumption was much lower at 234 thousand tonnes.
So the data shows that pork is the most widely eaten meat in the UK today. Back in the 1970s, beef and veal was actually the number one meat consumed, but pork overtook it in popularity during the 1980s and has remained the top meat choice since then.
Why is pork so popular in Britain?
There are several reasons why pork has risen to become the favorite meat of the British public:
- Pigs are highly productive farm animals with Each sow producing large litters of piglets each year. This makes pork a relatively affordable meat choice.
- Pig farming is highly efficient in terms of land usage and feed conversion. Pigs can be raised on agricultural byproducts and waste food, keeping production costs down.
- Pork is a very versatile meat that can be used in many different dishes, from sausages to roasts. It is mild in flavor and adaptable to many cuisines.
- The UK has a long history and culture around pork consumption, including popular dishes like bacon, sausages, pork pies and roasts. This traditional place in the cuisine helps maintain demand.
In many ways, pork lends itself very well to being the mainstream and regularly consumed meat for UK households, which explains its popularity over other meats.
Poultry ranked second
While pork is number one, poultry consumption has been steadily rising over the years. In 1970, poultry accounted for just 19% of meat consumed but has now risen to around 33% of total meat consumption.
Reasons for growing poultry consumption include:
- Broiler chickens have become very efficient in terms of feed conversion and fast growth. This has brought down retail costs.
- Consumers perceive chicken as a healthy meat choice due to its lower fat content.
- The range of poultry products has proliferated to include ready to eat products like chicken nuggets, breaded chicken and turkey burgers etc. This is attractive for quick and convenient meal solutions.
Poultry is likely to continue to grow as a share of meat eating and may even challenge pork’s top spot in future.
Beef and veal consumption has declined
In contrast to poultry and pork, beef and veal consumption has experienced a major decline over the past 50 years in Britain. From being the number one meat in the 1970s, it has now dropped to the third spot behind pork and chicken. Between 1980 to 2014, beef and veal consumption per person fell by around 33%.
Reasons contributing to this shift away from beef include:
- Health concerns starting from the 1980s onwards about links between red meat and heart disease or cancer.
- Higher retail costs of beef compared to other meats due to tighter supplies.
- Consumer perceptions that beef has a higher environmental impact due to cattle rearing contributing to greenhouse gases.
- Food scares like the mad cow disease (BSE) crisis in the 1990s damaged confidence in British beef for a period.
Beef still retains an important place in British meat eating, especially in traditional dishes like roasts and pies. But overall consumption levels are much lower today.
Lamb and mutton see lowest consumption
Among the major meat categories in the UK, consumption of lamb and mutton is by far the lowest. Some of the reasons for the low demand for sheep meat include:
- Higher retail costs for lamb compared to other meats.
- Longer decline in home production, with lower sheep numbers in the UK.
- Lamb is less versatile and adaptable in recipes compared to chicken or pork.
- Traditional dishes using lamb like roasts have become less common, especially among younger consumers.
That said, lamb still sees seasonal peaks in consumption around Easter when it becomes more of a menu fixture. But overall sheep meat represents only a small share of total meat eating in Britain today.
UK meat consumption trends
To summarize the overall trends in UK meat eating over recent decades:
- Pork has become the dominant meat consumed, overtaking beef in the 1980s.
- Poultry consumption has steadily risen to rival pork as the top meat choice.
- Beef and veal consumption has markedly declined since the 1970s.
- Lamb and mutton represent only a small share of meat consumption.
These broad shifts have been driven by a mix of factors including production efficiencies, retail costs, health concerns, food scares and consumer preferences. While traditions still play a role, UK meat consumption patterns have undergone significant change since the 1970s.
Regional variations in meat eating
While the overall data shows pork and poultry dominating at the national UK level, there are some interesting regional variations in meat eating patterns across Britain:
- Pork remains the number one meat across all UK regions.
- Lamb consumption is significantly above the national average in Wales, southwest England and north England.
- Beef eating is highest in north England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Chicken consumption is highest in London and southeast England.
So while pork leads everywhere, the popularity of other meats differs across the regions based on local culture, traditions and geography.
Pork consumption by region
| Region | Pork consumption (kg per person) |
|---|---|
| London | 16.5 |
| Southeast England | 17.2 |
| East England | 18.9 |
| Southwest England | 18.3 |
| Wales | 21.4 |
| West Midlands | 16.8 |
| Northwest England | 20.5 |
| North England | 18.1 |
| Scotland | 21.8 |
| Northern Ireland | 26.3 |
This table shows that Northern Ireland has the highest pork consumption per person, followed by Scotland and Wales. The southeast has the lowest consumption, while London is also below the UK average.
Lamb consumption by region
| Region | Lamb consumption (kg per person) |
|---|---|
| London | 2.5 |
| Southeast England | 2.2 |
| East England | 5.8 |
| Southwest England | 7.5 |
| Wales | 11.1 |
| West Midlands | 5.5 |
| Northwest England | 6.1 |
| North England | 8.7 |
| Scotland | 6.4 |
| Northern Ireland | 5.3 |
For lamb, Wales shows by far the highest consumption per person at over double the UK average. The southwest, northern England and Scotland also eat more lamb. Consumption is lowest in London and the southeast.
Beef consumption by region
| Region | Beef consumption (kg per person) |
|---|---|
| London | 7.8 |
| Southeast England | 8.5 |
| East England | 10.2 |
| Southwest England | 10.7 |
| Wales | 10.1 |
| West Midlands | 8.9 |
| Northwest England | 12.3 |
| North England | 13.7 |
| Scotland | 13.6 |
| Northern Ireland | 19.3 |
For beef eating, Northern Ireland and the north of England stand out with the highest consumption figures. Londoners eat the least beef, under half that of Northern Ireland.
Chicken consumption by region
| Region | Chicken consumption (kg per person) |
|---|---|
| London | 30.7 |
| Southeast England | 26.6 |
| East England | 24.8 |
| Southwest England | 25.1 |
| Wales | 22.6 |
| West Midlands | 22.3 |
| Northwest England | 22.7 |
| North England | 21.4 |
| Scotland | 23.4 |
| Northern Ireland | 31.1 |
Chicken consumption is highest in London, Northern Ireland and the southeast. It is considerably above average in these regions. Wales, Scotland and northern England have below average chicken eating.
These tables illustrate how meat preferences can vary significantly depending on what part of the UK you are in. Local culture and cuisine plays a big role.
How is meat consumed in the UK?
Beyond just volumes of meat eaten, it is also interesting to look at how meat is consumed in the British diet:
- Most meat is cooked and eaten at home, though eating out is increasing.
- Roasts remain a popular traditional meal, especially lamb or beef.
- Sausages, bacon, ham and poultry are regularly eaten at breakfast.
- Sandwiches, wraps and salads often contain chicken, ham or sausage.
- Pies, pastries and British curries may contain lamb, pork or chicken.
- Burgers and fried chicken are typical fast food choices.
- Chicken breast fillets are widely used in many recipes and dishes.
Meat still plays an important role in the repertoire of most home cooks and restaurant menus. But traditional roast dinners are now competing with a more diverse mix of cuisines that incorporate meat in different ways.
Meat consumption trends
Some interesting trends shaping current and future meat eating patterns in the UK include:
- Convenience and pre-prepared foods using meat are increasing, catering to time-poor consumers.
- There is more focus on meat provenance, animal welfare and sustainability among certain demographics.
- Higher chicken and pork consumption is expected to continue relative to red meat.
- More people are reducing red meat intake for health or environmental reasons.
- Plant-based meat substitutes and flexitarian eating are gaining ground.
- Higher meat prices may constrain rising consumption levels.
While meat remains integral to British diets, habits are likely to keep evolving with new food trends and influences. The type and volume of meat consumed 10 or 20 years from now may differ from today’s patterns.
Conclusion
In summary, pork tops the league as the most widely consumed meat in the UK today. Poultry comes a close second, while beef and lamb trail behind. These broad national trends mask considerable regional variations in meat eating preferences across the country however. Meat is still eaten in large quantities in Britain, though consumption habits are gradually changing over time. The prominence of meat in the UK diet makes the shifts between different meats an important trend to watch.