Study proposes meat tax in Mexico to improve health and climate

Imposing a tax on red and processed meat in Mexico could reduce consumption, improve public health , and promote environmental sustainability, according to a study led by the University of Edinburgh and the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).

The study, published yesterday, Friday, June 27, in the scientific journal Plos One, concludes that a 10% increase in the price of processed meat would reduce consumption by 8.3%, while a similar increase in red meat would imply a 7.9% drop in demand.

According to the authors, these tax measures can serve as an effective lever to reduce meat consumption associated with chronic diseases and high environmental impact.

In 2023, Mexico incorporated sustainability criteria for the first time into its National Dietary Guidelines, which recommend reducing red meat consumption and avoiding processed meat.

" Climate change is already here, and we don't have enough resources on the planet to keep up with the global demand for meat," lead author Kaela Connors told EFE . "Taxes are an effective and cost-effective tool to encourage healthier and more sustainable eating."

Lower-income households are the ones who reduce their meat consumption the most when prices rise, even though they already consume less than higher-income groups. Furthermore, they tend to replace meat with nutritious and affordable staples, such as legumes and seafood.

To prevent these measures from exacerbating inequalities, Connors proposes allocating part of the revenue to subsidies or vouchers for healthy foods . "The key is ensuring that nutritious alternatives are affordable," she added.

The University of Edinburgh researcher, who previously worked with INSP, believes Mexico is ideally positioned to adopt this policy: "It has a pioneering track record; it was the first country to implement a tax on sugary drinks in 2014, and has now incorporated sustainability into its dietary guidelines."

The research differs from previous analyses because it goes beyond diagnosis and proposes a concrete roadmap for fiscal policy intervention.

Connors urged people to leverage current political support, marked by initiatives such as the ban on junk food in public schools, to move toward healthier and more sustainable eating.

"It's an opportunity for Mexico to achieve its public health and sustainability goals at the same time," he concluded.

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