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Eating to save the planet: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial using individual-level food purchase data

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  • Jalil, Andrew J.
  • Tasoff, Joshua
  • Bustamante, Arturo Vargas

Abstract

Meat consumption is a major driver of climate change. Interventions that reduce meat consumption may improve public health and promote environmental sustainability. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of an awareness-raising intervention on meat consumption. We randomized undergraduate classes into treatment and control groups. Treatment groups received a 50-minute lecture on how food choices affect climate change, along with information about the health benefits of reduced meat consumption. Control classrooms received a lecture on a placebo topic. We analyzed 49,301 students’ meal purchases in the college dining halls before and after the intervention. We merged food purchase data with survey data to study heterogenous treatment effects and disentangle mechanisms. Participants in the treatment group reduced their purchases of meat and increased their purchases of plant-based alternatives after the intervention. The probability of purchasing a meat-based meal fell by 4.6 percentage points (p < 0.01), whereas the probability of purchasing a plant-based meal increased by 4.2 percentage points (p = 0.04). While the effects were stronger during the semester of the intervention, dietary shifts persisted and remained statistically significant through the full academic year. Our study provides evidence that an intervention based on informing consumers and encouraging voluntary shifts can effectively reduce the demand for meat. Our findings help to inform the international food policy debate on how to counter rising global levels of meat consumption to achieve climate change goals. To our knowledge, our study is the first to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention to reduce meat consumption using such high-quality data (i.e. individual-level food purchases) over a prolonged period.

Suggested Citation

  • Jalil, Andrew J. & Tasoff, Joshua & Bustamante, Arturo Vargas, 2020. "Eating to save the planet: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial using individual-level food purchase data," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:95:y:2020:i:c:s0306919220301548
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101950
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    3. Christopher J. Hopwood & Madeline R. Lenhausen & Wiebke Bleidorn, 2023. "Toward a comprehensive dimensional model of sustainable behaviors," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10171-10195, September.
    4. Paul Fesenfeld, Lukas & Maier, Maiken & Brazzola, Nicoletta & Stolz, Niklas & Sun, Yixian & Kachi, Aya, 2023. "How information, social norms, and experience with novel meat substitutes can create positive political feedback and demand-side policy change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    5. Alexander J. Stein & Marcelo Lima, 2022. "Sustainable food labelling: considerations for policy-makers," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 103(2), pages 143-160, June.
    6. Ghada Talat Alhothali & Noha M. Almoraie & Israa M. Shatwan & Najlaa M. Aljefree, 2021. "Sociodemographic Characteristics and Dietary Choices as Determinants of Climate Change Understanding and Concern in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    7. D'Souza, Clare & Brouwer, Anne Renée & Singaraju, Stephen, 2022. "Veganism: Theory of planned behaviour, ethical concerns and the moderating role of catalytic experiences," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Isabel Miguel & Arnaldo Coelho & Cristela Maia Bairrada, 2020. "Modelling Attitude towards Consumption of Vegan Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Nathalie J. Lambrecht & Lesli Hoey & Alex Bryan & Martin Heller & Andrew D. Jones, 2023. "Limiting red meat availability in a university food service setting reduces food-related greenhouse gas emissions by one-third," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(6), pages 1-20, June.
    10. David Arthur Cleveland & Quentin Gee & Audrey Horn & Lauren Weichert & Mickael Blancho, 2021. "How many chickens does it take to make an egg? Animal welfare and environmental benefits of replacing eggs with plant foods at the University of California, and beyond," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 157-174, February.
    11. Daniel Francisco Pais & António Cardoso Marques & José Alberto Fuinhas, 2023. "How to Promote Healthier and More Sustainable Food Choices: The Case of Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    12. Lohmann, Paul M. & Gsottbauer, Elisabeth & Doherty, Anya & Kontoleon, Andreas, 2022. "Do carbon footprint labels promote climatarian diets? Evidence from a large-scale field experiment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

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