Cutting red meat supports health and equity.

The article reports that decades of research, including a large meta-analysis of over six million adults, link higher red and processed meat intake to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and that reducing red meat in favor of plant, seafood or lean protein options can lower costs and address health inequities.

There is ongoing public confusion about red meat and protein recommendations. Recent federal dietary guidelines emphasized higher protein and placed a strong focus on red meat while also advising limits on saturated fat. The article’s author, a public health dean, says long-standing evidence supports reducing red meat and replacing it with healthier, more affordable protein sources. The piece links high red and processed meat intake to higher risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes and highlights the unequal financial and health burden on lower-income communities. What the article reports: - The new federal dietary guidelines are reported as encouraging higher protein intake with emphasis on red meat while also advising limits on saturated fat. - Decades of research and a recent meta-analysis using data from more than six million adults are cited as finding associations between higher red or processed meat intake and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. - The American Heart Association is described as advising prioritizing plant-based proteins, seafood and lean meats and limiting high-fat animal products, including red meat. - The article notes that red meat prices have risen sharply, citing an NPR report that red meat costs increased by more than 50% from pre-pandemic levels. - The author lists lower-cost protein alternatives mentioned in the article, such as beans, lentils, eggs, poultry, canned fish, tofu and nuts, and suggests policy and community programs to improve access to healthier options. Summary: The article frames reduced red meat consumption as a way to lower diet-related health risks and to ease financial strain for many households, especially in lower-income communities. It also presents improving access to affordable, healthier proteins through policies and community programs as a pathway to greater health equity. Undetermined at this time.