France urges citizens to cut back on meat as new climate and nutrition strategy lands

France has called on its population to limit meat and sausage consumption under a new national strategy that links dietary advice with climate protection goals.

The updated nutrition and climate strategy recommends that people eat more fruit and vegetables, pulses, nuts and wholegrain products, while limiting meat and processed meat and reducing their consumption of imported meat.

• France’s new national nutrition and climate strategy advised citizens to limit meat and sausage consumption.

• Per capita meat consumption in France reached 85kg in 2024, up 2.1% on the previous year.

• Agriculture accounts for 20% of France’s CO2 footprint, with meat production representing 61% of that total.

According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, per capita meat consumption in 2024 stood at 85 kilograms per year, similar to 2016 levels. Compared with 2023, consumption increased by 2.1%. That figure places France above Switzerland, where per capita consumption rose by 2.8% in 2024, equating to more than one kilogram of meat per person per week, according to the industry association Proviande.

The French government justified its new recommendations not only on public health grounds but also on environmental considerations. Agricultural production accounts for around 20% of France’s CO2 footprint, with meat production responsible for 61% of agricultural emissions.

The wording of the strategy reportedly triggered tensions within government. In a country that is both a major agricultural nation and the EU’s largest producer, the precise formulation of meat consumption guidance led to a behind-the-scenes dispute.

According to broadcaster France Info, publication of the strategy was postponed several times as ministries debated its language. The Ministry of the Environment pushed for an explicit reduction in meat consumption, while the Ministry of Agriculture favoured recommending limits rather than reductions. The government ultimately opted for language encouraging a limitation of meat and sausage products and promoting what had previously been described as “balanced meat consumption.”

The debate reflects the political sensitivity of dietary guidance in France, where meat plays a central role in cuisine and agriculture.

At the same time, access to meat-free options remains uneven. Those seeking vegetarian or vegan meals often face limited choices in restaurants, and meat-free menus in school canteens have sparked recurring public debate.

The new strategy signals that, despite political sensitivities, climate considerations are now formally embedded within national dietary guidance in one of Europe’s largest meat-producing countries.