Meat consumption is culturally rooted, according to study
Published: Wednesday, May 29th 2024, 11:30
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The reasons for and against meat consumption are different in Switzerland and Vietnam. However, researchers from Bern University of Applied Sciences concluded in a study that voluntary abstinence will not be enough to establish a sustainable diet in either country.
Both Vietnam and Switzerland eat a lot of meat compared to other countries, the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-HAFL) announced on Wednesday. Eating less meat is one of the biggest levers for making our diet more sustainable. However, many people find it difficult to change their diet, according to the university.
In their study, the BFH-HAFL researchers, together with researchers from Vietnam, wanted to find out what cultural factors have to do with this.
Meat as a status symbol
The result: when the Vietnamese give up meat, they do so mainly for their health, while in Switzerland the focus is on sustainability. However, according to the researchers, meat is seen as a status symbol in both countries. For example, some Swiss people only eat meat in the company of friends. In Vietnam, on the other hand, the family has a strong influence on meat consumption.
"Eating habits are deeply rooted. In order to change them, we need a variety of measures that target the specific consumption motives and barriers of individual groups," study director Thomas Brunner was quoted as saying in the press release.
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