Meat's moment continues
Q1 2026 meat demand grows despite declining household financial sentiment.
Meat's moment continuesBy Ann Hess
Among the five most populated states, meat is continuing to have a moment, driven largely by fewer vegans and vegetarians, and more Americans regularly consuming meat.
Since January, the percentage of individuals who regularly consume animal-derived products has increased by 5 points, according to a Q1 2026 Meat Demand Monitor analysis.
“I think the two biggest points here are indeed "meat continues to have its moment" and this aligns with a broader trend of consumers being intentional in increasing or sustaining protein consumption,” says Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University agricultural economics professor and co-author of the MDM. “Yes, the GLP-1 development is part of that, but that applies to about 13% of the U.S. public per the MDM while intentionally consuming protein applies.”
In fact, it appears about one-third of Americans are purposefully consuming protein to help meet personal health and fitness goals, according to an additional report authored by Tonsor and Justin Bina, assistant professor in the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University.
Launched in February 2020, the MDM project is funded in-part by Beef Checkoff and Pork Checkoff and tracks U.S. consumer preferences, views and demand for meat with separate analysis for retail and food service channels.
The monthly survey is conducted online with more than 3,000 respondents reflecting the national population.
In the first quarter of 2025, among the five most populated states, California had 78% regular meat customers, Texas 87%, Florida 86%, New York 74% and Pennsylvania 89%. In Q1 2026, those numbers increased almost across the board with California having 84% regular meat customers, Texas 86%, Florida 90%, New York 86% and Pennsylvania 90%.
These figures rose even as the percentage of respondents reporting improved household finances compared to a year ago continues to decline each month. In March 16% indicated their household finances were better than one year earlier (vs. 17% in Feb.) while 48% stated the same and 37% reported worse conditions.
“Consumers keep surprising, showing strong meat demand even as economic concerns elevate; this likely driven by societal health trends,” says Bina. “The big watchpoint now is how rising energy prices and their effects on food costs influence consumer purchasing from here.”
Tonsor says this aligns with broader “K-shaped economy” and “affordability” discussions as food expenditures, particularly away-from-home, follow directly from household financial changes. It also regularly corresponds with notable differences in prior day meat consumption frequency as meat consumption and demand grow with income and wealth.
In March, 72%, 52% and 72% of respondents consumed breakfast, lunch and dinner at home. Respondents indicated that 10%, 20% and 33% had beef their prior day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pork was included in 18%, 11% and 16% of these meals.
In January, 72%, 51% and 69% of respondents consumed breakfast, lunch and dinner at home. That month, 16%, 22% and 35% had beef their prior day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while pork was included in 19%, 12% and 18% of these meals.
“Indeed, the macroeconomic environment and subsequent impacts on household financial sentiment continue to be critical to monitor. Looking at 2024 and 2025, domestic meat demand was rather robust despite elevated concerns,” Tonsor says.
“Here in 2026, there are renewed causes of stress on the macroeconomic environment that may well lead to further erosion in household financial sentiment. If realized, we would expect domestic meat demand to temper, harm food service more than retail, and perhaps lead to additional cross-product shifts within meat (e.g. trading down on percent lean within ground beef, considering sirloin rather than ribeye, buying family-value packs of pork chops instead of smaller, thicker chop packages).”
