More people choose plant-based food if they recommend it

Climate researchers are paying more and more attention to food production, transportation and consumption: according to a study last September, more than a third of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the food industry.

Much of the pollution is produced by meat: cattle, chicken and pig farming, which often cut large areas of forest, emit about twice as much as crop production, The Guardian said online on Wednesday.

Meat consumption is particularly high in the United States, with an American eating an average of 111.5 kilograms of meat in 2020, and eating meat began to grow rapidly in several countries, including China.

Many would help protect the environment by choosing vegetarian dishes: new research has found that short messages written on restaurant menus can greatly influence behavior.

About six thousand people in the United States participated in research by the World Resources Institute (WRI), a nonprofit organization. The researchers looked at their reactions to ten different messages about sustainability, asking them to choose between two options, such as a bean or beef burrito.

Several of the messages had a dramatic effect. "All of us can do for our planet. If you trade just one meat dish for a plant, you'll save as much greenhouse gas emissions as the energy used to recharge your phone in two years," 25 percent of those on the menu chose a vegetarian dish that is more than twice for guests who have not read the message. As a result of another message, 22 percent more consumers opted for a plant-based meal, which is also a much higher proportion than those who did not read the message.

Other messages about the taste of the food or the need to protect the Earth for future generations have also positively influenced guests ’decisions, suggesting that the choice can be significantly shaped by the wording of the menus.

(Source: gasztrokalandok.co.hu; marmaade.co.hu; MTI | Image: pixabay.com)