The World Hits Global “Meat Exhaustion Day” Already Halfway Through the Year

• The global appetite for meat is outpacing what the planet can sustain, with consumption now more than double recommended levels.
• High-income countries drive the overshoot, using up their yearly recommendation within months.
• FOUR PAWS promotes solutions, introducing a meat consumption calculator.

Vienna/New York City, 24 June 2026 – This year, 24 June marks the point the world surpasses its recommended annual meat intake under the Planetary Health Diet, according to calculations by global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS. Reaching 'Meat Exhaustion Day' already halfway through the year underscores how global meat consumption far exceeds sustainable levels.

The threshold of meat intake recommended for a healthy, sustainable and just food system by the EAT-Lancet Commission is 16.4 kilograms per person per year, yet global consumption averages 34.5 kilograms – more than double. In Global North regions such as North America, Europe, and Australia, intake exceeds this by 70–80%, with countries like the United States and Australia reaching their Meat Exhaustion Day as early as mid‑March. Each year, up to 88 billion animals suffer in factory farm systems. Today, animal farming is responsible for one-sixth of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the main drivers of deforestation, habitat loss, waste of water, and pollution. Factory farms, where animals are kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, pose major global health risks through pollution, antibiotic resistance, and disease outbreaks and spread.

New tool reveals personal meat impact

To help individuals better understand and reduce their consumption, FOUR PAWS has launched a new Meat Consumption Calculator – an interactive tool that translates personal eating habits into clear, science-based guidance. Users enter the amounts of different types of meat they eat. The calculator then visually shows how their diet impacts farmed animals, and how it compares to the EAT-Lancet recommendation. It then suggests tailored adjustments to help users stay within the recommended limit of 16.4 kilograms of meat per year.

Making plant-based choices accessible: FOUR PAWS teams up with Chef Priyanka 

To demonstrate how reducing meat consumption can be both practical and enjoyable, FOUR PAWS is partnering with award-winning author and eco-chef Priyanka Naik, who has developed an innovative burger recipe as an alternative to traditional meat-based meals. The recipe showcases how familiar dishes can be reimagined using plant-based ingredients and leftovers – offering delicious flavours with a lower impact on animals and the environment.

“Countries are exceeding their limit of meat consumption, and we need to do something – one burger at a time. Burgers are among the top two items consumed in the U.S. and are not only devastating to the animals and environment, but also to one's health. So, if you're looking to live a long life on a healthy planet, I recommend incorporating a few more of my Chef Priyanka burgers into your diet. They're protein and fibre-packed burgers with surprising ingredients you'll already have on hand," says Chef Priyanka Naik.

About Meat Exhaustion Day 

Meat Exhaustion Day is calculated by FOUR PAWS by comparing the average actual consumption of meat per person with the Planetary Health Diet, recommended by the renowned EAT-Lancet Commission. This panel of international scientists gives guidance for what would be a consumption pattern that provides healthy food for a growing world population, within planetary boundaries.

About Chef Priyanka 

Priyanka Naik is a former data scientist in tech turned self-taught award-winning eco-chef, Food Network champion, TV Host, Author of THE MODERN TIFFIN, columnist of "Ecokitchen" for The Washington Post, pop-up restaurateur and a TEDx Speaker! An avid traveller who’s been to 48 countries, her globally inspired original recipes, with a focus on sustainability, have been featured on & hosted ABC LOCAL-ish, FOX, TODAY Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Food Network, ABC, TOYOTA and more, as well as to her ~600,000+ followers. She is a first-generation, Indian American, raised on Staten Island, New York, and has two elder sisters. Priyanka's Indian heritage is very important to her cooking style and lifestyle, so much so that she even learned her native language of Kannada before English and weaves in Indian elements throughout all of her original eco-focused cooking. She attributes her devotion to her Indian roots and passion for Indian food to her loving and supportive parents. Priyanka's love for the environment and animals drives her desire to share approachable plant-forward recipes that are inspired by her Indian culture, global travels and emphasis on low-waste living.