Meatless Monday Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

Last week Meatless Monday celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and animal-welfare advocates, health professionals, and media outlets noted the remarkable success that the campaign has reached throughout the last decade. Nearly 30 countries have Meatless Monday programs in place while an ever-increasing amount of schools, businesses, and institutions are incorporating the diet regimen into menu offerings and wellness plans. According to a 2012 study conducted by FGI Research, nearly 43 percent Americans surveyed said that they knew about Meatless Mondays, while 36 percent of the participants reported that it had influenced them to reduce their meat consumption. The campaign has also been lauded by celebrities and politicians such as Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Gore. “There are not many behavior change health issues that transcend like this one,” said Alfred Sommer, dean emeritus of Johns Hopkins University.