The Consumer Affairs Minister's "anti-meat crusade" clashes with the Agriculture Minister, as was the case with the introduction of Nutriscore labelling and the "Sugar kills" campaign.
Fig. 1. Spanish meat industry and livestock production (2020)
The Spanish meat sector is the fourth largest industrial sector in the country, behind only the automotive, oil and fuel and energy industries, and with GDP impact figures similar to those of the chemical and metallurgical industries.
In 2020 total turnover was almost €28 billion, plus the €22 billion contributed directly by livestock farming. This sector provides 100,000 direct jobs, representing 25% of the total employment in the food industry.
As for exports (Fig. 2), it continues its upward trend with more than 3 million tons exported in 2020 for a value of close to €9 billion.
Fig. 2. 2015-2020 meat exports evolution in tons
These figures make it the leading export sector of the food industry. Strong Chinese demand has been the main driver of recent rises. In 2019, Spain became the leading exporter of pork and pork products to China.
Meat consumption in Spain
According to official statistics, in 2020, Spanish households increased meat consumption by 10.5% annually, to more than 2 million kilos. In the shopping basket, meat products accounted for the largest share of the household budget, 20.37% of food and beverage expenditure, equivalent to an expenditure of 349.54 €/person/year. Its value grew by 12.9%, with an average price of 7.01 €/kg. Per capita consumption was close to 50 kilos, 10.2% higher than the previous year.
Spain 2050
A relevant factor in the debate that has arisen is the so-called “Spain 2050. Foundations and Proposals for a Long-term National Strategy”, recently presented by PM Sánchez in which is textually stated: “Several studies indicate that meat consumption in the Spanish population is two to five times higher than recommended”. Previously it was warned “the Spanish population will have to reduce its intake of foods of animal origin”.
After the campaign launch, the socialist party to which the PM belongs did not hesitate to criticize Minister Garzón. Besides that, PM Sánchez reaction in Latvia, after inciting the decrease in meat consumption a few months earlier, were very strange to say the least. Most of the media interpreted these statements as an endorsement of the PSOE leader to the meat sector. However, according to others, Mr. Sánchez managed to get away with his joke. Thus, strategically, Sánchez avoided supporting both Garzon's campaign and the data on which the communist relies to attack the consumption of meat, which allowed him to escape the rain of criticism that his Government partner had received.
Several sources