VIENNA, April 13, 2026 Austrians have already consumed their recommended annual meat quota for 2026 by April 13, according to the animal welfare organization "Vier Pfoten," which declared Tuesday the country’s "Meat Exhaustion Day."
Alarming Consumption Figures
The "Eat Lancet Commission" recommends a yearly meat intake of 16.4 kilograms per person, but Austrians consume nearly four times that amount—58 kilograms annually. The disparity is particularly stark when examining Austria’s beloved schnitzel: while experts advise eating just 2.1 schnitzels per week, the average Austrian consumes 7.44 weekly.
"Eigentlich müssten angesichts dieser Zahlen alle Alarmglocken schrillen. (...) Wir müssen endlich zur Kenntnis nehmen, was dieser Exzess bedeutet: Abgesehen vom enormen Tierleid riskieren wir unsere Gesundheit und gefährden darüber hinaus unsere Umwelt massiv," said Veronika Weissenböck, campaign leader at "Vier Pfoten." The organization warned that excessive meat consumption not only perpetuates animal suffering but also poses severe risks to public health and the environment.
Discounts and Environmental Impact
"Vier Pfoten" criticized widespread discount promotions on meat in supermarkets, calling them a "Brandbeschleuniger" (accelerant) for overconsumption. "Wenn tierische Lebensmittel regelrecht verramscht werden, sinkt natürlich das Bewusstsein für ihren Wert. Daher gilt: Wer billiges Fleisch kauft, zementiert Tierqual," Weissenböck emphasized. The group argued that cheap meat sales undermine awareness of the product’s true cost, including ethical and environmental consequences.