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The amount of energy that goes into raising, transporting, and marketing red meat is far greater than for most other foods. For one thing, corn (maize), which is fed to animals has a large carbon footprint itself because of the intensive agriculture involved, including both fuel and fertilizer.

In addition, cattle, and to some extent other ungulates, produce large amounts of methane gas from their digestive processes. Methane is 37 times as powerful, as a greenhouse gas, as CO2. In other words, cows belch a lot, and their belch is powerful, in addition to being resonant.

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14y ago
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12y ago

A 2012 study from Lancaster University in England shows that

  • Meat has a carbon footprint at the checkout of 17kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of meat.
  • Cheese has 15kg per kilogram.
  • Cooked meats are also high at 11kg per kilogram, with
  • Bacon at 9kg per kilogram.
  • Exotic vegetables and mushrooms are high (9kg per kilogram), largely because of freight and greenhouse heating costs.
  • Fruit and vegetables grown without artificial heating and/ or were shipped to the UK by sea, have low emissions.
  • Wine has a carbon footprint of 2kg per kilogram.
  • Potatoes, apples, milk, bread and cereals, all locally produced, are under 2kg per kilogram.
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12y ago
A 2012 study from Lancaster University in England shows that
  • Meat has a carbon footprint at the checkout of 17kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of meat.
  • Cheese has 15kg per kilogram.
  • Cooked meats are also high at 11kg per kilogram, with
  • Bacon at 9kg per kilogram.
  • Exotic vegetables and mushrooms are high (9kg per kilogram), largely because of freight and greenhouse heating costs.
  • Fruit and vegetables grown without artificial heating and/ or were shipped to the UK by sea, have low emissions.
  • Wine has a carbon footprint of 2kg per kilogram.
  • Potatoes, apples, milk, bread and cereals, all locally produced, are under 2kg per kilogram.
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Q: What is the carbon footprint of meat and other foods?
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How does a carbon footprint build up?

Your carbon footprint builds up as you become responsible for more carbon dioxide emissions. You can do this by buying a bigger car, or by using your air conditioning, or by driving to work instead of taking public transport. You can build it up even by eating more red meat!


Lower Your Weight and Carbon Footprint?

The world peace diet is designed to compliment a lifestyle choice. The creator of this meal plan hopes that those who follow it will have a more caring, intelligent and happier life. This is accomplished by eating a balanced, healthy vegan diet. The low fat, high fiber foods are for weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. This diet of low calorie fruits and vegetables and high fiber whole grains can assist diabetics in maintaining blood sugar levels. Another benefit of this vegan diet is that the absence of meat enables the practitioner to lower their carbon footprint.


What is largest contributor to the ecological footprint of most individuals in affluent nations?

The largest contributor to the ecological footprint of most individuals in affluent nations is the consumption of goods and services, particularly those that require extensive resources and energy for their production and transportation. This includes items like clothing, electronics, and food that may have a high carbon footprint or are associated with deforestation, water depletion, and pollution. Additionally, transportation and energy use in affluent lifestyles also contribute significantly to their ecological footprint.


What is the ultimate source of CO2 in the body?

All living plants and animals contain carbon in their cells. Humans eat carbon in all natural foods and meat and the gas is released when the food is burned into energy, and it combines with the oxygen we breathe to make CO2.


What elements composes lean meat?

All meat, in fact all biological material is composed mostly of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen with smaller amounts of many other elements.

Related questions

What is the carbon footprint of a dog?

Having a medium sized dog as a pet has the same carbon footprint as running two SUVs, or four-wheel drives. This is largely because of the amount of meat they eat.


In relation to other foods raw meat should be in which position?

in relation to other foods raw meat should be stored in which position


Do vegetarians use less water then meat eaters?

On their own, no. Vegetarians still have to wash the dishes and do laundry all the same that meat-eaters do. A vegetarians water-footprint (like a carbon footprint, but for water and water resources) might be a bit smaller than a meat-eaters because they will not have the water needed to raise live stock involved.


What were Albert Einstein's favorite foods?

I have no idea who originally answered the question of "did Albert Einstein eat meat?" but the only correct answer is that he did indeed eat meat He was a supporter of the vegetarian diet but admitted many times that he could not live up to it. He did finally give up meat the last few years of his life. He is also said to be a forerunner of the heavy carbon footprint theory based on meat eating but this has not been corroborated or confirmed.


How do you reduse our eco footprint?

As individuals, we can reduce our eco/carbon footprint by recycling, eating less red meat, conserving water, reducing the amount of goods we consume, and choosing environmentally friendly forms of transportation. As a society, we use more clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources, carbon capture our fuel, and raise awareness.


Why does being a vegetarian have little influence on your carbon footprint?

Actually it has a large influence on your carbon footprint."...if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan - a Camry, say - to the ultra-efficient Prius."http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=science


Raw meat should be stored in which position?

in relation to other foods raw meat should be stored in which position


Why does red meat increase your carbon footprint so much while being a vegetarian has little influence on your cabon footprint?

It takes tremendously more vegetable food to feed the animals that people then eat, then it would take to feed people vegetables rather than meat. It is also true that the digestive process of ungulates such as cows tends to release a lot of methane into the atmosphere.


How does a carbon footprint build up?

Your carbon footprint builds up as you become responsible for more carbon dioxide emissions. You can do this by buying a bigger car, or by using your air conditioning, or by driving to work instead of taking public transport. You can build it up even by eating more red meat!


Which foods are the highest concentration of carbon?

Food is generally made up of carbon, hydrogen, trace elements and water. Meat, fruit and vegetables are mostly water. Dry foods sush as grains are still quite moist. The most carbon concentrated foods would be water free. This would include dry sugar, pure starch and oils.


Can you use a meat thermometer for foods other than meat?

Yea, why wouldn't you? It's still a thermometer either way.


Does eating less meat really help reduce global warming?

Yes, if we ate less red meat there would be less methane, one of the greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere. This is because cattle and other ruminant animals belch methane. Methane and carbon dioxide are causing global warming.