“Real meat price" up to 50 % higher than current consumer prices

A study reports that meat prices are 50 % higher than what consumers now pay for it, if we take into account the damage to the climate, animals and bio diversity.

Pork cost an additional 53 %

According to environmental advice agency CE Delft, meat’s actual price is a lot higher than the consumer price. Meat productions harms the environment, the climate, animal health and bio diversity: these costs are currently not included in consumer prices.

The government’s subsidies for the industry and the fight against diseases, should also be part of meat pricing, it feels. If these are all added to the cost, then prices would increase dramatically: pork + 53 %, chicken + 26 % and beef on average 40 %. The study “De Echte Prijs van Vlees” (Meat’s real cost) also indicates that air quality (in its research area, the Netherlands) suffers the most from meat production. Manure contaminates water and air with phosphates and ammonia. The advice agency estimates the annual damages to cost 4.5 billion euro.

Environmental cost for 2,500 items, including manure

CE Delft was able to estimate costs because of its Manual of Environmental Costs it created for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment last year. The manual includes more than 2,500 items and their environmental cost (emission damage to health, eco systems and buildings or materials) in euro per kilogram of emissions. 

When it comes to meat consumption, the agency points out it could not include every factor back then: antibiotic resistance, animal welfare and health hazards were not included for instance. The actual cost of meat consumption could therefore be even higher.