Question

Why is pork and chicken consumption on the rise in the United States?

• A) It is easier to raise chickens than cattle.
• B) Pork has a reputation for carrying disease.
• C) Changes in the American diet favor leaner meats.
• D) Cattle processing has gotten a lot of criticism for being inhumane.

Please note that the correct answers would be:

• A) It is easier to raise chickens than cattle.
• C) Changes in the American diet favor leaner meats.

You can choose one or more of these options as the correct answers, depending on the specific focus of your question.

Answer 1

Pork and chicken consumption has risen due to the ease of raising chickens compared to cattle and a shift in American diets towards leaner meats, resulting in a change in demand with more people wanting poultry at every price point.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rise in pork and chicken consumption in the United States can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, it is easier to raise chickens than cattle, making poultry a more efficiently produced and cost-effective option for both producers and consumers. Chickens require less space and can be raised to market size more quickly than cattle. Secondly, there has been a significant shift in consumer preferences, with many Americans now favoring leaner meats due to health considerations. These preferences, influenced by changing dietary guidelines and a growing awareness of the health impacts of red meat consumption, have resulted in a considerable shift in demand. Rather than demand increasing only if the price drops, we see more people wanting chicken (demand curve shifting rightward), even if prices remain the same or increase.