Nutrition advice doesn’t usually make international headlines.
But when China’s healthy ministry released its new dietary guidelines in 2016, the world took notice. Why? It was all thanks to one key recommendation: that the country should cut its meat consumption in half.
Decades of nutrition research support that advice. Eating too much animal protein is simply bad for your health. It can cause a whole range of diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
And moving toward plant-based foods is also one of the best things any person can do to protect farm animals.
The recommendations from China’s health ministry could not come at a better time. China’s meat consumption is growing rapidly and now accounts for one quarter of all global meat consumption.
China consumes twice as much meat as the United States, and it will reach three times as much as the U.S. in the next decade.
There is no country in the world more important than China when it comes to plant-based eating.
Thankfully, there is real potential for change. Plant-based foods have a long history in Chinese cuisine, and virtually everyone enjoys products like tofu and soy milk. Chinese consumers are very open to novel foods, so modern plant-based meats have a chance at widespread acceptance.
A young generation concerned with the environment and animals is turning to plant-based food more often, and plant-based restaurants have become trendy in major cities.
To accelerate the change, Lever’s Plant Power program is working with food service teams at hotels, restaurants and other companies operating in the greater China region to help them add more plant-based meals. Lever is also doing direct outreach to young people to educate them on the benefits of moving toward plant-based eating.
If you agree that it’s vital to grow interest in plant-based eating in China, join and give now. Use Lever to move the world toward plant-based eating.
Hear about opportunities to move the world for animals