Pork consumption in Canada amounted to approximately 21.7 kilograms of carcass weight per capita in 2018, and it is forecast to increase to 22.3 kilograms by 2020. Despite this projected growth, consumption has followed a downward trend since 1980, when per capita consumption was measured over 32 kilograms.

Why is pork consumption decreasing?

Whilst almost 50 percent of Canadians consume meat or meat containing products daily, a fair share of consumers are also reducing or eliminating meat entirely from their diet. Additionally, some Canadians are actively avoiding specifically beef and other red meat in their diets. Females aged over 55 are the demographic most likely to be avoiding such foods, followed by females aged between 18 and 34.

Meat substitutes

The increasing retail sales value of meat substitutes in Canada reflects the decline in meat consumption - by 2022 sales are estimated to reach around 149 million U.S. dollars, up from around 87 million in 2012. Beyond Meat was the most popular plant-based protein brand which Canadians had tried at home in 2019.