Irish diets have higher red meat intake than recommended, says charity

A charity representing Irish people in Britain said many in that community eat more red meat than the recent Eat-Lancet report recommends, and the report links large reductions in red meat to both health and environmental benefits.

Irish people living in the UK have been urged by a charity to reduce their red meat intake to improve health. The call followed a recent Eat-Lancet commission report that places lower meat consumption at the centre of a "planetary health diet" aimed at protecting personal and planetary health. The report sets a very low daily allowance for beef and lamb and recommends replacing those calories with more plant-based foods. Charity representatives said the guidance must be sensitive to cultural and community considerations and that local support for third-sector services is already stretched. What the article reports: - Irish In Britain, a charity for the Irish community, said people should consider cutting red meat to improve health. - The Eat-Lancet report recommends about 7g (15 calories) of beef or lamb per day, which the article says would mean an 89% reduction for typical Irish consumption. - The report sets other daily allowances (for example, 50g of potatoes, 250g of dairy and 28g of fish) and advises doubling intake of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes to replace calories. - Report authors said global adoption of the recommendations could prevent about 11 million early deaths a year and that food production is a major driver of environmental change. They also recommended policy measures such as advertising restrictions, education campaigns and taxes on red meat. - The charity welcomed the evidence-based call for wider action but warned the advice is not a one-size-fits-all solution and noted that small charities providing meals are already resource-constrained. Summary: The article outlines a charity's response to the Eat-Lancet report, noting that recommended cuts to red meat would be large compared with typical Irish diets and that the report links dietary change to health and environmental benefits. Charity representatives called for a multi-departmental parliamentary response and for sensitivity to cultural and community needs. The piece also notes the report is expected to draw criticism from Ireland's dairy and agricultural sectors.