What's happened to meat and dairy consumption
during the 30 year period between 1970 and 2000?

Per capita consumption of meat (beef, pork,
chicken, and fish) increased from 167.5 pounds
per person in 1970 (7.34 ounces per day) to 194.4
pounds per person (8.52 ounces per day) in 2000.

Per capita liquid milk consumption decreased
from 269 pounds to 197 pounds.

Bad publicity and real science about milk most
certainly contributed to the decline, but consumers
have been scared into eating additional cheese by
those people who market and promote dairy products
by using calcium scare tactics.

What a mistake! I should have simultaneously become the
UnCheeseman at the same time I became the NotMilkman.

Summary: Per capita cheese consumption has nearly
tripled, with the average American expected to consume
31 pounds in 2004. From 1970 to 2000, milk consumption
dropped by a factor of 30 percent per individual.

An examination of each 5-year period shows a
steady and consistent decrease in the consumption
of milk, accompanied by a steady and consistent
increase in the consumption of cheese.

(consumption in pounds per American per year)
YEAR BEEF PORK CHKN FISH MILK CHEESE

1970 79.6 48.8 27.4 11.7 269.8 11.4
1975 83.0 38.7 26.4 12.1 254.3 14.3
1980 72.1 52.1 32.7 12.4 237.9 17.5
1985 74.6 47.7 36.4 15.0 230.2 22.5
1990 63.9 46.4 42.4 15.0 221.5 24.6
1995 64.4 49.0 48.4 14.9 209.5 26.9
2000 64.5 47.8 66.9 15.2 197.2 29.8

What happened to the consumption of the proverbial
apple per day (which keeps the doctor away)? After
all, Americans are living longer lives. How about
broccoli consumption? George Bush, Sr., claimed to
hate the stuff. I was amazed after reviewing the
raw data. In 1970, the average American consumed
31.4 pounds of apples and 1.5 pounds of broccoli.
By 2000, apple consumption had increased to 45.3
pounds, while broccoli consumption increased to
8.3 pounds per person. Have fun reviewing the stats:

(From USDA and the Economic Research Service)

<http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FoodConsumption/DataSystem.asp?
ERSTab=3>

More Bad News For the Animal Rights Movement (& Chickens)

Clearly, the animal rights movement is not waging
a very effective campaign. After first becoming involved
in the AR movement in 1995, I've noted how AR groups
have focused upon the plight of abused chickens.

From 1995 until 2000, activists and lobbyists have
increased their altruistic efforts in creating greater
public awareness of the horrible nature in which
chickens live and die. How they are debeaked. How they
are confined. How they are killed without first being
stunned. By promoting compassionate slaughter laws,
AR organizations have relieved the guilt of chicken
eaters, who now enjoy eating more chicken by supposedly
doing so compassionately. Chicken consumption increased
during that five-year period from 48.4 pounds per person
to 66.9 pounds. In 2004, nearly 55 pounds of chicken
will be consumed by each American.

Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com