Eating too much meat makes us all pay the price
Opinion together with Marleen Finoulst De Tijd – 20 juni 2025
Whether you like it or not, meat does have an impact on health.
Everywhere in the country the barbecue is glowing this weekend. Isn’t it wonderful, that smell of marinated ribs and rich skewers. Or should we be worried about our Burgundian lifestyle? In any case, the Superior Health Council showed some concern this week by recommending moderate consumption of meat. Brussels blows hot and cold at the same time. That helps to keep the barbecue going, but it does not immediately show a strong and coherent policy.
Link to this document in Dutch:
De Hoge Gezondheidsraad toonde deze week in elk geval enige bezorgdheid
If the Belgian steak becomes a bit more expensive tomorrow, it will in any case not be the fault of the Flemish Minister of Agriculture Jo Brouns. He is concerned that meat will soon become a luxury product, accessible only to the rich. He may also fear that they will soon remove the meat from the menu in the Wetstraat, and serve lentils as a replacement. ‘All that patronizing is good for nothing. Let the consumer decide for himself. He is wise enough,’ said Brouns.
Whether the consumer is wise, we leave unanswered. The fact is that the average consumer in Flanders is overweight. The extra kilos that more than half of the Flemish people carry with them weigh heavily on our physical and mental health. Own fault, big bump? Not at all, because you and I are paying the toll for our obesogenic environment. Belgium spends about 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on diet-related diseases. Obesity acts like a leech on the depleting state coffers.
Meat and obesity are not synonymous, are they? That’s right. But whether you like it or not, meat does have an impact on health. There is scientific evidence that more than 300 grams of red meat per week increases the risk of some cancers – colon cancer and some stomach cancers. In addition, high cholesterol is mainly due to eating animal products, including red meat. That is not a marginal problem, one in two Flemish people suffers from high cholesterol.
In Flanders, we score particularly well on taking pills. That helps to keep cholesterol under control, but it further unbalances our state coffers. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are among the most sold medicines in Belgium.
Link to this reference in Dutch het haalt onze staatskas verder uit balans.
Hardworking farmers
Our Minister of Agriculture undoubtedly has Flemish livestock farmers’ best interests at heart. They are hard-working farmers, let there be no doubt about that. While most Flemish people turn over in their beds, the livestock farmers are often already in their barns. They deserve a fair price for their work. Investments in the sector are sky-high. A contemporary barn is not a chicken coop and the costs of animal feed count heavily.
In addition to economic costs, livestock farming also comes with social and environmental costs. The Flemish farmer knows very well how to produce meat and milk, but that does not alter the fact that the impact of animal products – especially ruminants such as cattle – is much higher than that of vegetable products.
Moreover, livestock farming takes up a lot of space. More than 70 percent of Flemish agricultural land is used to feed livestock. And that is not enough. Flanders is also hugely dependent on the import of animal feed to maintain the livestock population. Anyone who calls for food sovereignty had better take a closer look at trade flows.
The problem is complex. There is a need for structural reforms, so that farmers who still want to stay in the sector receive fair wages for work. You don’t do that on a Flemish scale. For that, we have to go to the drawing board at European level. That takes (way too) long.
In the meantime, let’s not steer the consumer further in the wrong direction and work on a coherent message. Inveterate carnivore, enjoy your steak. Know that it is a luxury good. Do it in moderation – no more than 300 grams of red meat per week – otherwise there is a good chance that you and I will pay the price.