Dietary recommendations for meat intake | Knowledge4Policy (K4P)

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Examples of dietary recommendations for meat intake as described by food and health-related organisations

Meat recommended intakes
WHO 2019 (pdf)
‘The recommended daily intake for an adult includes (…) 160 g of meat and beans. Red meat can be eaten 1−2 times per week, and poultry 2−3 times per week.’
FAO/WHO 2019a (pdf)
‘Sustainable healthy diets can include moderate amounts of eggs, dairy, poultry and fish; and small amounts of red meat.’
Food based dietary guidelines in Europe 2025
Food based dietary guidelines from several EU countries recommend reducing meat intake, particularly red and processed meat, and choosing lean meat instead. Quantitative recommendations for red and processed meat differ across Europe and range from max 300 to max 500g per week.
WCRF/AICR 2018 (pdf)
For cancer prevention ‘Limit consumption of red and processed meat. Eat no more than moderate amounts of red meat, such as beef, pork and lamb. Eat little, if any, processed meat.’
NNR 2023 (pdf)
‘We recommend (…) limited intake of red meat, white meat, processed meat’. ‘Red meat and processed meat consumption should be reduced in favour of plant foods, such as legumes, and fish from sustainably managed fish stocks.’ ‘For health reasons, it is recommended that consumption of red meat (including red meat in products and processed foods) should be low and not exceed 350 gram/week ready-to-eat (cooked) weight. Processed red meat should be as low as possible.’
EAT-Lancet Commission 2025
In a planetary healthy diet only moderate or small amounts of fish, dairy, and meat are recommended. ‘The targets, ranges, and options in this flexitarian version of the planetary health diet are intended to provide flexibility within a specific energy intake, with intake of animal-sourced foods not to exceed approximately two servings per day, with one being dairy (250 g milk or milk equivalents) and one being non-dairy (eg, 75–100 g from fish, poultry, red meat, or eggs)’.
American Cancer Society (ACS) 2020
‘A healthy eating pattern limits or does not include red and processed meats.’
DGA 2025 (pdf)
‘The core elements that make up a healthy dietary pattern include: (…) protein foods, including lean meats, poultry …’ The recommendation for meats, poultry and eggs in weekly amounts is 26 ounces/week (737 g/week) for a 2000 kcal/day Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern. ‘When cooking and purchasing meals, select lean meat.’ ‘Replacing processed or high-fat meats (e.g., hot dogs, sausages, bacon) with seafood could help lower intake of saturated fat and sodium, nutrients that are often consumed in excess of recommended limits. Replacing processed or high-fat meats with beans, peas, and lentils would have similar benefits, as well as increasing dietary fiber, a dietary component of public health concern.’ ‘The Committee recommended that the Eat Healthy Your Way Dietary Pattern emphasize dietary intakes of beans, peas, and lentils while reducing intakes of red and processed meats’.

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Originally Published \| Last Updated	29 May 2026 \| 17 Jun 2026
Knowledge service \| Metadata	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

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